On Sunday, rebel territories in eastern Ukraine choose a parliament and leader. The vote, with unknown candidates and a lack of opposition figures, has been condemned by the international community, reports GHN based on DW.
A packed auditorium and deafening applause welcomed the famous Russian singer Iosif Kobzon at the Donetsk opera house, where he appeared with an ensemble of singers and dancers from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs to publicize Sunday's parliamentary election in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.
At the end of the concert, the Russian superstar - brought in from Moscow especially for Monday's event - introduced the republic's "prime minister," rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko.
Two years ago, Kobzon made a similar appearance in Donetsk. Back then he sang a song whose title translates to "My Mother Ukraine, My Father Donbass" along with the former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, now in exile in Russia.
This city in eastern Ukraine used to be Yanukovych's political stronghold. But now Donetsk, along with Luhansk, has declared itself separate from the rest of Ukraine under pressure from pro-Russian separatists and mercenaries.
The song about Mother Ukraine wasn't in Kobzon's lineup this time around. And these days, it's less music and more the sound of gunfire that serenades Donetsk.
Sunday's election will be held to make a statement, as separatists in Donetsk and in the neighboring region of Luhansk use it to consolidate their secession from Ukraine.
"The style of this election reminds me of Ukraine's old Party of Regions, which used to be in power," said Serjei, a resident of Donetsk. "But this time the opposition is the Ukrainian state itself."