LUHANSK, November 16 (Sputnik) — The Ukrainian President's recent decree on the economic blockade of Donbas marks the final withdrawal of Kiev from the Minsk talks, Alexei Karyakin, chairman of the Luhansk People's Council said Sunday.
“By his decree on the economic blockade of Donbas Poroshenko has finally withdrawn Ukraine from the Minsk negotiation process. Not only is the decree on the blockade a direct violation of certain provisions of Minsk protocol, but it is also unconstructive and aggressive by its spirit. And this proves again that Ukraine’s participation in the peace process is a cynical imitation and deception. That is why Luhansk People’s Republic [LPR] will not sign a single new decision of the trilateral group while this barbaric act remains in force,” Karyakin told reporters.
On Saturday two Poroshenko’s decrees were published on the president’s website.
In the decree on the social and economic situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions Poroshenko ordered a halt in serving bank accounts of enterprises and residents in southeastern Ukraine within one month. Moreover, he commissioned the Ministry of Justice to move prisoners and evacuate all the state institutions and courts from the region of the Kiev's military operation in Donbas.
He also requested to notify the Council of Europe on all Ukraine's violations of human rights in this region and about their reasons.
Following a February coup in Kiev, residents of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine established people's republics that later declared independence. An armed conflict started in eastern Ukraine in mid-April, when Kiev launched a military operation against independence supporters there, which led to a desperate humanitarian situation in the region.
A ceasefire was agreed upon at a meeting of the so-called Contact Group on Ukraine comprising representatives of Russia, Ukraine and Organization for security and Co-operation in Europe held in Minsk on September 5. Another meeting of the Contact Group on September 19 resulted in a memorandum, specifying the implementation of the ceasefire. Since the establishment of the truce, the sides have been accusing each other of numerous violations.
