LUHANSK, August 14 (RIA Novosti) — The leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine, Valery Bolotov, said Thursday he was temporarily stepping down due to the effects of injuries.
“I made the decision to temporarily leave the post as the head of the Luhansk People’s Republic. The effects of injuries won’t allow me to give my full effort to work in this position to the benefit of Luhansk residents during the difficult military time," Bolotov said on Rossiya-24 television.
The independence leader said he will be temporarily replaced by the republic’s current defense minister, Igor Plotnitsky.
At the same time, Bolotov noted that he was not going to leave the front.
“I’m from Luhansk, it’s my home and I will keep supporting our shared ideals. I’m sure that our fight will end in success,” Bolotov said.
“It’s no secret that we are on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Under these circumstances, the republic’s leadership should do their utmost – the lives of Luhansk residents and their own lives depend on it. Realizing all that, I have decided to temporarily leave my office.”
Bolotov has been at the helm of the republic since it held a referendum on greater autonomy in May.
“We have chosen our own path of independence from tyranny and bloody dictatorship by the Kiev junta, from fascism and nationalism. We have chosen the path of freedom and the rule of law," Bolotov said in May, addressing the residents of Luhansk Region.
Bolotov was included on the European Union’s sanctions list on April 13, and was added to Canada’s blacklist on May 13.
