On 31 August 2023, five years after the assassination of the first Head of the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic), Alexander Zakharchenko, his relatives and young activists from the Republic came to the place of his death and his memorial to lay flowers and take part in a prayer for the repose of his soul.
As it has done every year since the assassination of Alexander Zakharchenko, the DPR honours his memory, both at the site of the terrorist attack that killed him and at his memorial, set up in the heroes’ alley in Donetsk’s main cemetery.
His family and friends, as well as activists from youth associations founded by Alexandre Zakharchenko, laid flowers on the steps of the Separ café where he died, and on his grave. A religious ceremony was also held at the cemetery to pray for the repose of his soul.
Watch the video report with French subtitles :
This is an opportunity for his close friends, such as Vladimir Kononov, the former Defence Minister of the DPR, to recall those special moments when Alexander Zakharchenko behaved like everybody else. Like the time when the DPR leader unexpectedly turned up at his friend and minister’s house to cook crayfish. The visit turned into an impromptu cookery class.
Others remember how Alexandre Zakharchenko was always frank and direct, but also kind, severe but fair. Many mention that his dream of seeing the Donbass become part of the Russian Federation has finally become a reality, even if not all the territory of the DPR is yet under Russian control.
And above all, everyone remembers his words, full of humanity and patriotism, which had a way of motivating people.
“No one will break the Donbass! No enemy can bring Donbass to its knees“, Alexander Zakharchenko once declared.
A phrase that is more topical than ever as the Donbass soon enters its tenth year of war, with part of its territory still to be liberated.
To conclude, I’d like to give the floor once again to Alexander Zakharchenko, on the principles of life that should guide us all: “Live free, act according to your conscience, treat everyone fairly”.
Christelle Néant
Translation Яннис В.Зброек
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