It should be highlighted that this message appeared during the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine and the deterioration of the Ukrainian-Russian interstate relations. The relevant data was spread by the publication “Correspondent” with reference to the not widely known site nr24.org. The publication states that the delegates from all districts of Northern Bukovina heard reports from members of the initiative group, which stated the difficult socio-economic and cultural situation of the Romanians in Ukraine.
It is acknowledged that during the so-called constituent conference the issue of security of Romanian-speaking phones in the region was discussed. The participants of the conference expressed their desire that Romania would have an active role in the process of establishing novel autonomy. [1] “Currently, the Romanians of Bukovina are undergoing one of the most difficult periods in their history. We find ourselves in a country where there is war; its industry and agricultural sector are collapsing. There is the highest unemployment rate among the Romanians of Bukovina in Ukraine. Our youth is fleeing the region,” said Assembly Coordinator Dorina Chirtoaca. She highlighted that in this regard the idea of creating Bukovinian autonomy within Ukraine on the territory of compact residence of the Romanian population is becoming quite relevant.
Referring to the biography of the coordinator Dorina Chirtoaca, we cannot find anything, except from that Dorin Chirtoaca is a Moldovan politician and it is strange that their names are identical. This compels us to mistrust the authenticity of the message.
The contrived guest from Romania, Marcel Russu, according to the report, noted that “the struggle of the Bukovinians for Romanian autonomy is adequate and relevant. This is the sole possible form of protection of the national, cultural, linguistic, economic and geopolitical interests of the Romanian population of Northern Bukovina. Moreover, it is the only possible way in which the dream of millions of Romanians to unite within a single Romanian project can be gradually realized. I anticipate that Bessarabia’s Romanians, and especially its Southern part, will follow your example” [2]. The participants of the conference are adamant that autonomy presupposes economic and social well-being. This status will guarantee serious financial and economic assistance from Romania [2].
The publication mentions another conference coordinator, Cornelia Russu, who allegedly presented a number of other important arguments in support of the established Assembly and the proclamation of the special status of Northern Bukovina. In particular, she highlighted that “as Romania moves forward on the path of the European Union, Northern Bukovina is degrading and collapsing. The socio-economic crisis and the destruction of traditional culture are losing the indigenous nation of the region, the Romanians.” The conference resulted in a unanimous vote to establish Assembly of Bukovina’s Romanians. It was also decided to hold a second conference of Assembly of Bukovina’s Romanians in the upcoming future to elect the leadership of the organization.
However, as it was established, there was no such event in Chernivtsi at all, and the activists enumerated in the material proved to be fictional characters. In particular, it is estimated that the residents of Transnistria were offered to earn money in early July by participating in a photo shoot of the so-called “Assembly of Bukovina’s Romanians” - pretending to be the Romanians from Chernivtsi region, who are “oppressed by Kyiv authorities.”
The General Consulate of Romania in Chernivtsi refuted this report, highlighting that the information about the so-called “Assembly of Bukovina’s Romanians” could be provocation by interested forces to speculate on possible interethnic misunderstanding [3].
Consequently, the conclusion becomes obvious: some stakeholders or a group of people are trying to provoke interethnic disagreements in Chernivtsi region applying provocative information to worsen the Ukrainian-Romanian interstate relations and create disinformation centers in areas at risk of misunderstandings.
List of Bibliography:
1. Rumuny Bukovyny zazhadaly avtonomii dlia svoho kraiu [Elektronnyi resurs] // Korespondent. – Rezhym dostupu: http://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/3545644-rumuny-bukovyny-zazhadaly-avtonomii-dlia-svoho-kraui
2. ZMI poshyryly feik pro te, shcho rumuny Bukovyny khochut avtonomii [Elektronnyi resurs] // Molodyi bukovynets. – Rezhym dostupu: http://molbuk.ua/chernovtsy_news/95816-zmi-poshyryly-feyk-pro-te-scho-rumuny-bukovyny-khochut-avtonomiyi.html
3. Khto taki «patrioty» iz «Asamblei rumun Bukovyny» i choho vony khochut? [Elektronnyi resurs] // Bukovyna tolerantna. – Rezhym dostupu:http://buktolerance.com.ua/?p=6026
Summary
The article deals with the problem of provocative news in media about Assembly of Bukovinaʼs Romanians. According to publications in media, it was held conference in June, 2015 in Chernivtsi by Assembly Bukovinaʼs Romanians and representatives decided to autonomy Romanians. The author denies the truth of the statement.