BRUSSELS - The European Union said that holding of parliamentary and presidential elections in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics called by the self-appointed authorities would run counter to the spirit of the Minsk Protocol and the EU won't recognize them.
“We deplore Minister Lavrov’s [Russian Foreign Minister] remarks about Russia’s forthcoming recognition of the elections “on the territory of the proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics,” reads a statement from the Spokesperson of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
“We recall that the Minsk Protocol, co-signed by representatives of the Russian Federation and the two self-proclaimed ‘republics’, foresees early local elections in parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in accordance with the Ukrainian law on interim self-governance, “the statement said.
According to the statement, the elections would disrupt progress towards finding a sustainable political solution in the context of the implementation of the Minsk Protocol.
The document also said that the EU urges Russia to use its influence to help pave the way towards local elections in accordance with the Ukrainian law.
“This would be a highly welcome contribution to the implementation of the Minsk Protocol,” reads the document.
