№50: Zakarpattia: A New Powder Keg in Ukraine?
№50: Zakarpattia: A New Powder Keg in Ukraine?

Author(s): Dariusz Kałan
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Geopolitics, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Ukraine; Zakarpattia region; Crimea; Russian influence; separatism; region’s destabilization;
Summary/Abstract: Some features of Ukraine’s southwestern Zakarpattia Oblast—geographical exclusivity, poor historical links with Ukrainian statehood, independence of local politicians, and ethnic groups’ aspirations for autonomy—could suggest similarities to Crimea. However, a key factor that rules out a repeat of the Crimean scenario is the limited influence of Russia in the oblast. It does not mean that the region is not exposed to any decentralization movements. It seems that now the biggest challenge to the central government in Kyiv regarding Zakarpattia are the ambitions of local elites who have both sufficient financial independence and political tools in the form of non-regulated Hungarian and Ruthenian issues to take part, in the most pessimistic assumption, in the region’s destabilization.

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