Moscow:

Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine have launched a song contest to find a national anthem for their breakaway state. The move is the latest in a series of initiatives by separatist leaders as they seek to turn the territory into a recognisable and legitimate country by building mechanisms of state. About 30 contenders have entered the contest to create the national song of Novorossia, the name the separatists give to their self-declared country, Russia’s state-owned RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The Russian singer Vika Tsiganov presented the latest offering at a glitzy concert in Moscow attended by key separatist figures including Igor Strelkov, a notorious military commander. The song, which begins with the lyrics “Arise, motherland, here is your will, Novorossia!” was written by Tsiganova’s husband and producer, Vadim Tsiganov, and recorded at a studio in Italy to music by the Serbian composer Ninoslav Ademovich.

Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine took up arms against the government in Kiev in April, provoking a war that has killed at least 3,700 people. A ceasefire signed in September led to a halt in major operations, although fierce fighting continues almost daily at flashpoints including Donetsk airport. Separatist leaders have sought to use the relative calm since the truce to reinforce their legitimacy by building up the institutions of state within the territory they have seized, not only seeking a national anthem but also calling elections on Nov 2.

Voters in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics — the two entities that make up “Novorossia” — will also be asked to elect a “head” of the Donetsk People’s Republic. In a move apparently designed to forestall criticism of the role of outsiders — especially Russians — in the self-declared state, candidates for the top job must be at least 30 years of age and have lived in the region for at least 10 years. That rules out several Russians who emerged as key figures in the separatist movement, including Strelkov and Alexander Borodai, a Muscovite who served as “prime minister” of the region between May and August. Some confusion remains over the constitutional arrangement of the embryonic state, however. While the two republics are nominally part of Novorossia, they retain parliaments, governments, and even their own individual anthems. Entries for Donetsk’s own national anthem competition closed at the end of July.

Since then, the candidates have been whittled down to two finalists, said Yuri Legstutes, the Donetsk People’s Republic’s minister for culture and tourism. “We had several unofficial songs that emerged, so we wanted to finally choose something official,” he said. “The process is nearly complete. The winning text will be chosen by the Supreme Soviet [the republic’s parliament] shortly.”

Entries are still open for the Novorossia anthem, however, and several Russian stars including a veteran crooner, Iossif Kobzon, are expected to enter. However, they should be aware that Tsiganov and her husband have powerful backers. A long-time supporter of the separatist cause, in September she recorded an “answer to Nato” called This is My Motherland featuring the separatist leader Pavel Gubarev. Her performance on Monday was attended by Oleg Tsarev, a former Ukrainian MP who has thrown in his lot with the rebels and become speaker of the Novorossia parliament. Tsarev told RIA Novosti he has already decided to back Tsiganova’s entry. Strelkov, who executed several people under Stalin-era military law while he was running the Ukrainian town of Slavyansk, presented Ms Tsiganova with flowers after her performance and said he “liked the song”, but stopped short of endorsing it for the win.

— The Daily Telegraph