OSCE Parliamentary Assembly president calls for cancellation of 'absurd' referendums in eastern Ukraine - May. 10, 2014

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly president calls for cancellation of ‘absurd’ referendums in eastern Ukraine

By OSCE.

Published May 10, 2014 at 8:02 pm

Pro-Moscow rebels leader and Slavyansk's self-styled unelected mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov shows the ballot for the referendum in the eastern Ukranian city of Slavyansk on May 10, 2014. A referendum on the autonomy of the two East-Ukrainian regions will be held on May 11, 2014 on the territory controlled by rebels. Tensions were running at fever pitch in eastern Ukraine Saturday on the eve of an independence referendum, as rebels briefly held several Red Cross staff on suspicion of espionage. AFP PHOTO / VASILY MAXIMOV

Photo by AFP

COPENHAGEN – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today called on separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of eastern Ukraine to cancel planned referendums on self-rule scheduled for May 11.

“The idea that free and fair voting could take place in these so-called referendums is absurd. Not only are these referendums completely illegitimate in the eyes of the international community, they would be taking place amid a climate of fear, violence and lawlessness that is sure to keep many away from polling places.

“I call on the de facto authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk to call off these mockeries of a vote. All in Ukraine should instead focus on making their voices heard on 25 May, when the country elects a new president,” Krivokapic said.