Evolution of the executive power systems of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (from self-declaration to admission to the Russian Federation)

Abstract

The article presents a comparative analysis of the development of the executive power systems of the DPR and the LPR at the fi rst (from 2014 to 2018-19) and second (from 2018-19 to 2022) stages of statehood formation in the self-proclaimed republics. Th e legal status of the Heads of the Republics of the DPR and LPR, the legal status of the highest executive authorities in the DPR and LPR, their evolution in the process of development of the self-proclaimed republics from 2014 to 2022 is studied in detail. Th e functions of the executive authorities, which formed the basis for the formation of the corresponding systems of the executive authorities of the DPR and LPR, are investigated. The systems included ministries, state committees, which are the leading executive authorities in the self-proclaimed republics. Services, agencies and inspections in the DPR performed a less prominent role and were subordinate to ministries and state committees. In the LPR, services, agencies and inspections performed managerial functions as independent executive authorities. A comparison of the systems of executive authorities and their inherent functions in the DPR and LPR with the Russian model of building executive power allows us to conclude that they are converging at the second stage of the development of the selfproclaimed republics.