UKRAINE: Separatists in Luhansk say preparations for a referendum on independence from Ukraine will not stop and the people will decide on Moscow's call to postpone it

Record ID: 450884

  • Title: UKRAINE: Separatists in Luhansk say preparations for a referendum on independence from Ukraine will not stop and the people will decide on Moscow's call to postpone it
  • Date: 8th May 2014
  • Summary: LUHANSK, UKRAINE (MAY 7, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR CITY HALL -- NOW THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SELF-PROCLAIMED ARMY OF THE SOUTH EAST PRO-RUSSIAN SEPARATISTS IN CAMOUFLAGE AT ENTRANCE TO BUILDING SEPARATIST FLAG BROKEN WINDOWS SEPARATIST IN CAMOUFLAGE TALKING IN FRONT OF BUILDING MEN IN SUITS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRESS OFFICER OF THE 'ARMY OF THE SOUTH EAST' SEPARATIST MOVEMENT, NIKOLA NIKITIN, SAYING: "The command centre of the South East Army has only one reaction to this statement. All the people of Luhansk region wanted this referendum and that is why the people of Luhansk region have to decide whether to go ahead with the referendum as planned, or postpone it. That is why, tomorrow all the representatives of the the Luhansk region will decide. Only people can decide when and where to have a referendum and what to discuss about the referendum." ARMED SEPARATIST GUARDING BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRESS OFFICER OF THE 'ARMY OF THE SOUTH EAST' SEPARATIST MOVEMENT, NIKOLA NIKITIN, SAYING: "Any way the decree on holding a referendum was issued by Bolotov (self-proclaimed governor of Luhansk region) and the preparations for the referendum have not stopped for one minute and it will be as people decide." NIKITIN TALKING EXTERIOR COMMAND CENTRE MEN OUTSIDE COMMAND CENTRE BARBED WIRE OUTSIDE MAIN ENTRANCE RUSSIAN FLAG OUTSIDE WINDOW OF HQ PRO-RUSSIAN SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE POLICE STATION VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS ARGUING WITH SEPARATISTS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING CALLING FOR THE POLICE TO SWEAR ALLEGIANCE TO THE SEPARATISTS
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7PQ0WCD3NLEUHC7YRBPBZ1R0A
  • Story Text: The press officer of the separatist self-proclaimed 'Army of the South East' said on Wednesday (May 7) it was up to the people of Luhansk to decide when they would hold a referendum to break away from Ukraine.
    He was responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin's surprise call in Moscow to the separatists in east Ukraine to postpone the referendum planned for May 11.

    "The command centre of the South East Army has only one reaction to this statement. All the people of Luhansk region wanted this referendum and that is why the people of Luhansk region have to decide whether or not to go ahead with the referendum as planned or postpone it. That is why, tomorrow all the representatives of the Luhansk region will decide. Only people can decide when and where to have a referendum and what to discuss about the referendum," said Nikola Nikitin, press officer of the Army of the South East.
    He added that he would wait on word from the self-proclaimed governor of the Luhansk region, Valery Bolotov who signed a decree to hold Sunday's referendum.

    "Any way the decree on holding a referendum was issued by Bolotov and the preparations for the referendum have not stopped for one minute and it will be as people decide," said Nikitin.
    Separatists stormed the regional government headquarters in Luhansk on April 29 facing no resistance from police.
    The Ukrainian interior ministry said on May 2 they had, however, regained control of the television station which the separatists had occupied.
    Outside the police station on Wednesday, pro-Russian protesters demanded the chief of police swear allegiance to their movement to split from Ukraine.
    They complained bitterly when he failed to show up.
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