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Pro-Russian Rebels Agree To Postpone Elections
Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say they have decided to postpone disputed local elections in territory they control until February.
Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Deinego, the representatives of the self-proclaimed "people's republics" in parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, said in a joint statement that local elections scheduled for October 18 and November 1 would be postponed until next year.
The statement, published on the rebels' Donetsk News Agency website, said the separatists decided to delay holding the elections after studying the results of the Paris summit on October 2 at which the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine took part.
Pushilin and Deinego, who represent the rebels in talks moderated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said they would not hold the elections as scheduled as long as Ukraine fully implemented the "political points" of the Minsk peace agreement that was signed in February.
Ukrainian officials and several other Western countries had condemned the rebels' announcement to hold elections outside of Ukrainian jurisdiction and said it was a gross violation of the Minsk agreement.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax
Here is an ENGLISH map of the latest situation in the Donbas conflict zone -- courtesy of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (click image to enlarge):
The cancellation of local elections, previously scheduled by so called “DPR” and “LPR” officials, allows for creating proper conditions for holding elections in the territories they control, spokesperson for EU foreign affairs and security policy Maja Kocijancic said.
If elections are held in line with the Ukrainian law and OSCE standards, it would be a step forward in Minsk agreements’ implementation.
“Together with the recently reached agreement on the withdrawal of smaller weapons this announcement offers renewed hope for a sustainable political settlement of the conflict, based on full respect of international law and Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said.