According to an
expert, Moscow "views the elections’ outcome as an important signal for
the Ukrainian authorities".
MOSCOW, November 12.
/TASS/. The outcome of the Sunday elections of heads of the self-proclaimed
Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR, LPR), as well as People’s Councils
elections, have made it clear that people in Donbass support the policy of
integration with Russia, head of the Russian Center for Current Politics Alexei
Chesnakov told TASS on Monday.
When commenting on
the elections’ outcome, he pointed to some important conclusions. "First,
the election campaigns and the unprecedented voter turnout prove that people
support the policy the Donbass republics’ authorities adopted in 2014. It
undoubtedly is a victory for pro-Russian voters and pro-Russian political
forces," the expert stressed. "Second, the Donbass republics have
shown that their political institutions are mature enough to create conditions
for legal elections," he added.
"Third, the
current authorities have achieved clear success, which is a result of people’s
trust in their leaders," Chesnakov went on to say. "Despite the
hardships that the ongoing blockade has been causing, both [Acting DPR head]
Denis Pushilin and [Acting LPR head] Leonid Pasechnik have managed to show
their high efficiency in a relatively short period of time. The elections have
given great impetus to efforts to resolve a number of economic issues, which
include the need to increase public employees’ wages, reduce fuel prices,
counter corruption and remove obstacles hindering business activities. This
shows that people support their social and economic policies and strongly
oppose Kiev’s policy of punishment towards Donbass," the expert pointed
out.
"Fourth, the
election campaign was open and transparent," the Russian expert noted.
"The elections should be recognized as democratic and conforming to
international standards," he said. At the same time, according to
Chesnakov, the vote "in no way violates the Minsk Agreements, as the
Package of Measures concern only local elections, while they have nothing to do
with the elections of the republics’ heads and parliamentary elections."
"And finally,
fifth. The Sunday elections give hope that the Minsk process, aimed at finding
a peaceful solution to the conflict, will go on as the Donbass republics
continue to abide by the Minsk Agreements," the expert said.
According to
Chesnakov, Moscow "views the elections’ outcome as an important signal for
the Ukrainian authorities." "Kiev needs to stop wasting precious time
and launch a direct dialogue with Donbass," he concluded.
Source: ITAR-TASS
12-11-2018
