The future of the Donbass: a comparative analysis of the Russian, Georgian and Moldavian experience of solving secession problems

The paper discusses the factors influencing secession in the Donbass region. It is noted that it is impossible to give an accurate forecast of their development since the institutional structure and value system in the self-proclaimed republics are not well established. The study analyzes three strategies of the parent sates to combat secession in order to compare them with the Ukrainian case and predict which direction the official Kiev may choose, basing on the objective internal and external aspects of the conflict as well as the interests of all the actors involved.