Online Referendums for Independence from Moscow Begin in Five Russian Regions
Today, online referendums on independence from Russia have commenced in Chuvashia, Karelia, Belgorod, Novgorod, and Voronezh Republics.
On July 1, 2023, at 00:00 Moscow time, the National Online Referendum on self-determination of the five regions of the Russian Federation - Chuvashia, Karelia, Belgorod, Novgorod, and Voronezh Republics - started on the website referendum2023.site, as announced by the organizers of the online referendums.
Voting will last for two weeks and conclude at 23:59 on July 15. The results will be announced by the end of the month, according to the organizers.
The initiative for declaring referendums on independence was announced on May 12 during the presentation of the results of the previous five plebiscites in Kaliningrad and its region, Ingria (Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast), Kuban, Siberia, and the Urals, where citizens residing in these territories voted for independence from the Russian Federation.
"The dissolution of the 'Russian Empire' is irreversible," state the organizers.
This online platform provides an opportunity for the regions of Russia to express their opinion on whether they have the right to live independently from Moscow.
Previously, online referendums on independence and self-determination of the republics of the Russian Federation took place in five other regions of Russia: Kaliningrad, Ingria (Saint Petersburg), Kuban, Siberia, and the Urals. They concluded on February 28. According to the organizers, 5.6 million people participated in the referendums.
The results of the first online referendums in these regions were as follows:
- Kaliningrad: 72.1% in favor of independence from Moscow, 27.9% against.
- Ingria: 66.2% in favor of independence, 33.8% against.
- Kuban: 55.7% in favor of independence, 44.3% against.
- Siberia: 63.9% in favor of independence, 36.1% against.
- Urals: 68.2% in favor of independence, 31.8% against.
The results of the online referendums revealed two significant trends. Firstly, the ideas of regional independence have become deeply rooted within the societies of the peoples inhabiting the former Russian Empire. Secondly, the Russian authorities fear free citizens and the outcomes of their expression of will.