KIEV, May 12 (RIA Novosti) – Sunday’s referendums in two southeastern Ukrainian regions will have no legal consequences, acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov said Monday.
“This is a propaganda farce that will carry no legal consequences except for criminal responsibility for its organizers,” the Ukrainian press service quoted Turchynov as saying.
The Ukrainian authorities will hold a dialogue in the country’s east only with those “who have no blood on their hands and are ready to defend their goals and views by legal means,” the statement said.
Referendums on the status of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions were held on Sunday amid a continuing security operation by the Kiev regime, which is using armored vehicles and aircraft to target civilians.
According to preliminary results announced by local election authorities on Monday, over 90 percent of registered voters took part in the referendums in the Luhansk and the Donetsk regions.
Russian experts have said the fact that the referendum was even held shows that citizens have no trust in Kiev.
The vote was organized by Ukrainian federalization supporters, who have refused to recognize the legitimacy of the country’s interim government and have called for greater autonomy, following a change of power in Ukraine in late February.
The authorities in Kiev launched a special military operation to crack down on the protesters, resulting in dozens of casualties throughout the region.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned Kiev’s operation as a very dangerous development with Russian President Vladimir Putin urging pro-federalization activists to put off the referendum to ensure the start of national dialogue to resolve the ongoing crisis.
