Ukraine at OSCE says illegal 'elections' in occupied Donbas will undermine Minsk agreements

Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna Ihor Prokopchuk said this at a regular meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday, September 27, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Today's discussion takes place after the announcement by Moscow and Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk of their plans to hold illegal so-called elections in the occupied areas of the Donbas. This will be a violation of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements and seriously undermine their further implementation," the diplomat said.

Prokopchuk recalled that the Minsk agreements, a party to which is Russia, clearly define the holding of local elections in the Donbas in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and OSCE/ODIHR standards, as well as under the supervision of the OSCE.

"If these so-called elections take place, Russia will thus show disdain for its commitments made in Minsk. This 'show' itself will be null and void, without any recognition from Ukraine or the international community," he said.

As was reported earlier, on September 7, militants in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions scheduled "elections" for November 11 in which they want to elect "LPR" and "DPR" leaders and "deputies." 

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