On local elections in uncontrolled areas of Donbas

It is very important to ensure the electoral process in Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasised at a board meeting of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine on the preparation of the internal affairs bodies for ensuring order during the local elections.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk has noted the need to adopt a separate law for holding elections in Donetsk andLuhansk regions, which are temporarily uncontrolled by the Ukrainian government.

The Head of Government stressed the conditions under which the elections in Donetsk and Luhansk may be held: "First is the withdrawal of Russian troops. No one will hold elections at the point of Russian automatic rifles and under supervision of Russian terrorists."

Another condition, he underlined, - is political competition: "This is a local election to Donetsk and Luhansklocal councils, which are part of Ukraine. This means that the electoral process must take place exclusively under Ukrainian legislation, which provides political competition, access of all political forces to the electoral process, the possibility of registration of all candidates, their free nomination and free political canvassing, as well as mass media access to coverage of the election process."

"The key requirements encompass the withdrawal of Russian troops, political competition, access of the Ukrainian authorities in order to guarantee peace and security in these areas, Ukrainian media access to these territories, access of the authorities responsible for conducting the election – the CEC and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and full compliance with OSCE/ODIHR criteria for the holding of fair and transparent elections,"Arseniy Yatsenyuk highlighted.

He pointed out the need to provide the one and a half million of IDPs with the right to take part in these local elections: "Due to the Russian aggression they fled their territory. But they have full legal constitutional right to choose a deputy in the city where they live, namely in Donetsk and Luhansk, a mayor of the city– to choose the Ukrainian local authorities, not representatives of the Russian terrorists."

Original