Formation of public administration and public service systems in the unrecognized states of Donbas Region

Abstract

Introduction. In this article we aim to identify common patterns and specifications of the state institutions development in the self-proclaimed states in the South-East of Ukraine named Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (the DPR, the LPR). Materials and methods. For the first time we described the models of public administration and bureaucracy in the DPR and the LPR, and then we compared them with the systems of Russia and the Ukraine using the case study method, classification, comparative legal analysis and best practices identi­fication. Results of the study. We proved that state-building in the unrecognized states of Donbas moves towards democratization: the role of the armed forces is reduced as well as the concentration of power, and democratic freedoms are expanded. The organization of the public authorities in the self-proclaimed re­publics is similar to the system of the Ukraine (e.g.: unicameral parliament and unitary system), but the public service is built according the Russian model. Discussion and conclusions. The DPR and the LPR passed legal acts and adopted the system of executive bodies, which are not yet available in Russia. The LPR’s experience in using annual reports of civil servants for their certification, control, analysis of the distribution of official duties, and performance improvement is of significant interest. The service ethics in the LPR is formalized in the Code of Civil Servants’ Conduct which has a higher legal status than the General Principles of Service Conduct that exists in the civil service of Russia.