You're reading: Poroshenko says local elections in Donbas might be held in 2015

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he hopes that the special local elections to be held in Donbas will take place in 2015.

“This [date of the elections] depends on many circumstances. It might happen very quickly, maybe even this year,” he said in an interview on Inter TV channel on March 21.

According to Poroshenko, the law on special local self-government status in certain regions of Donbas stipulates that local elections will be held after the situation in the region has stabilized, and after all the militants and mercenaries have withdrawn.

“Elections can be held only when de-occupation occurs,” Poroshenko added.