MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The self-proclaimed eastern Ukrainian Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have introduced their proposals to changing the country’s constitution, in particular giving the two republics special status within Ukraine.
“On the eve of the planned Ukrainian Constitutional Committee’s meeting on May 13, 2015, we have once again sent our written legislative proposals. If Ukraine accepts these amendments into its Constitution, then both the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics will make the according changes in their constitutions,” DPR negotiator Denis Pushilin was quoted as saying by Donetsk News Agency.
The constitutional changes proposed by both republics among other things include a non-aligned military status for Ukraine, the creation of a police force under the control of the local authorities, giving Russian an official status in the eastern regions, and granting the republics a special economic regime.