MOSCOW, October 29 (RIA Novosti) — The European Union strongly opposes Russia's intention to recognize elections in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, a EU spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday.
"We deplore Minister Lavrov's remarks about Russia's forthcoming recognition of the elections "on the territory of the proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics" in the context of the implementation of the Minsk Protocol. We recall that the Minsk Protocol, co-signed by representatives of the Russian Federation and the two self-proclaimed "republics", foresees early local elections in parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in accordance with the Ukrainian law on interim self-governance," the statement reads.
According to the spokesperson, "the holding of 'presidential' and 'parliamentary' elections, called by the self-appointed authorities, would run counter to the letter and the spirit of the Minsk Protocol and disrupt progress towards finding a sustainable political solution in this framework".
The statement reads that the European Union will not recognize the elections and urges Russia to "use its influence to help pave the way towards local elections in accordance with the Ukrainian law", which would be a "highly welcome contribution to the implementation of the Minsk Protocol".
Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that he hopes the Donetsk and Luhansk elections are to be held as planned and that Russia is to recognize the results. The minister stressed that these elections are important in terms of legitimization of power.
Following a February coup in Kiev, residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine established so-called people's republics and later declared independence. The crisis escalated in mid-April, when Kiev authorities launched a military operation against the independence supporters.
On September 5, the two conflicting sides agreed on a ceasefire during a meeting of the trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine in Minsk. A memorandum specifying the implementation of the ceasefire was adopted at another Contact Group meeting on September 19.
In addition, Ukraine has adopted a law granting special status to parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and stipulates that local elections are to take place on December 7. However, the self-proclaimed republics have set their own elections for regional leaders and legislative bodies for November 2.
