UKRAINE: Donetsk residents voice support for referendum, despite Putin's call for a delay
Record ID:
858106
UKRAINE: Donetsk residents voice support for referendum, despite Putin's call for a delay
- Title: UKRAINE: Donetsk residents voice support for referendum, despite Putin's call for a delay
- Date: 8th May 2014
- Summary: DONETSK, UKRAINE (MAY 8, 2014) (REUTERS) BUILDING OF DONETSK REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BARRICADE IN FRONT OF BUILDING MAN IN MASK IN FRONT OF BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DMITRIY, ACTIVIST, SAYING: "I think Putin's offer is some kind of a political game. The people of Donetsk are unaware of what they are doing, what's happening there. The people of Donetsk are going to the referendum on May 11th, and no one will stop it. When the deputies voted for this unanimously, they reaffirmed what people decided." PEOPLE BY A TENT SOUNDBITE (Russian) VLADIMIR, ACTIVIST, SAYING: "I want it to take place on May 11th, not to be postponed by another three days, because in that time anything can be provoked." TENT IN FRONT OF ADMINISTRATION BUILDING SOUNDBITE (Russian) LYUDMILA, ACTIVIST, SAYING: "We are in favour of the referendum taking place. If Russia supports us, we will be happy. If it doesn't, we'll hold the referendum on our own." DONETSK REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
- Embargoed: 23rd May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- City:
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABZ1FQ8JYTLV0GA6060MJVAGBC
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on Thursday (May 8) voiced support for a referendum on self-rule to be held on Sunday (May 11), ignoring a public call by Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone.
"I think Putin's offer is some kind of a political game. The people of Donetsk are unaware of what they are doing, what's happening there. The people of Donetsk are going to the referendum on May 11th, and no one will stop it. When the deputies voted for this unanimously, they reaffirmed what the people decided," Dmitriy, an activist, said outside the regional administration building occupied by masked separatists.
The decision, which contradicted the conciliatory tone set by Putin just a day earlier, caused consternation in the West, which fears the referendum will tear Ukraine apart.
"We are in favour of the referendum taking place. If Russia supports us, we will be happy. If it doesn't, we'll hold the referendum on our own," pro-Russian activist Lyudmila said.
Denis Pushilin, a leader of the self-declared separatist Donetsk People's Republic, expressed gratitude to Putin but said the "People's Council" had voted unanimously on Thursday to hold the plebiscite as planned.
The referendum will take place in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Political analysts said Putin may have expected the rebels to go ahead with the referendum, showing that they were not under his orders. By distancing himself from a process that will not be recognized by the West, Putin may also hope to avoid further sanctions as earlier measures begin hitting the economy.
His spokesman said the Kremlin needed more information about the rebels' decision. He also said the rebel statement came only after the Western-backed government in Kiev had declared it would press on with its military operation, implying that Ukraine was to blame for the rebels' refusal to heed Putin. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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