Brussels, 30/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Union expressed its unhappiness on Thursday 30 October at the remarks of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the forthcoming recognition by his country of the “elections” on the territory of the People's Republics of Lugansk and Donetsk as part of the Minsk Protocol. These elections are scheduled for 2 November. “We urge Russia to use its influence to help pave the way towards local elections in accordance with the Ukrainian law”, said the EU high representative's spokesperson, adding that “this would be a highly welcome contribution” to the implementation of the Minsk Protocol.
The spokesperson stated that the Minsk Protocol, co-signed by representatives of the Russian Federation and the two self-proclaimed “republics” provides for early local elections in parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, “in accordance with the Ukrainian law on interim self-governance”. He added: “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”.
On 28 October, Lavrov announced that Russia would recognise the elections of 2 November, organised by the separatists. “We hope the elections will take place as arranged and we will, of course, recognise the results”, he told Russian newspaper Izvestia. He hoped that “the people's right of expression will be free and that no one will try to disrupt it from the outside”. He said that these elections would be “very important in legitimising the authorities”. “This is one of the most important points of the Minsk Protocol”, he suggested. Russia has not formally recognised the independence referendums held by the separatists in May. (CG)