MOSCOW, May 15 (RIA Novosti) – The authorities of the Donetsk People’s Republic have reiterated the upcoming presidential election of “neighboring state” Ukraine will not be held on the territory of the self-proclaimed republic.
“[Donetsk] People’s Republic will be a parliamentary republic and its boundaries will meet the boundaries of Donetsk region … Authorities of the republic announced the Ukraine’s presidential election scheduled for May 25 will not be held on the territory of the former Donetsk region because ‘Ukraine is a neighboring state,’” the republic’s leadership said in a statement.
A security council has been established in the republic, tasked with the “expulsion of occupiers from the territory of Donetsk People’s Republic,” the statement added.
Earlier this week, Denis Pushilin, co-chairman of the Donetsk People’s Republic, confirmed that the self-proclaimed state will not participate in Ukraine’s upcoming presidential election on May 25.
Ukraine saw a regime change in February after the so-called Maidan mass rallies in Kiev. The Ukrainian parliament backed by far-right movements ousted elected President Viktor Yanukovych, amended the country’s constitution and scheduled early elections for May 25.
Moscow has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the current Kiev authorities, saying that the legitimacy of the upcoming election will depend on a number of conditions including transparency and the interests of the regions.
The Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics in eastern Ukraine declared themselves sovereign states on Monday, following May 11 referendums on self-determination. Almost 90 percent of voters endorsed political independence from Kiev.
