Dennis Pushilin, the leader of the Donetsk region and backed by Russia, has issued a decree implementing severe restrictions on public activities in the Donetsk region, a territory largely recognized as part of Ukraine but annexed by Russia. He asserted the necessity of such restrictions to reinforce public order and safety.
The recently promulgated rules impose various limitations on Donetsk residents that include, but are are not restricted to, a night curfew preventing citizens from being in public spaces from 11pm to 4am. There are special exemptions for military personnel, emergency and repair workers. Furthermore, all public meetings, demonstrations, rallies, and strikes are now prohibited unless they receive special permission from a regional security agency.
These restrictions extend to privacy as well, with the military granted authority to censor postal mail, phone conversations, and electronic communications. They also give security personnel the power to perform comprehensive checks of identification and travel documents, with detentions allowed to last up to 48 hours.
The basis for these heightened measures is rooted in the Presidential Executive Order No. 756 signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2022. This order initiated martial law in regions of Ukraine annexed by Russia, including Donetsk. This decree enables a ‘maximum response level’ according to Russian Federal Constitutional Law No.1-FCZ. The law’s Article 7 guides the implementation of martial law and, in addition to current regulations, permits actions such as property seizures, political party suspensions, and travel bans.
Contrary to a controversial vote, Russia officially incorporated the People’s Republic of Donetsk in 2022, while Ukraine continues to claim the region as its territory.