Moscow - Civilian and military authorities independent from Kyiv will be formed in Donetsk region following the results of the so-called referendum on the region's status, the "Donetsk People's Republic" government co-chairman Denis Pushylin told a press conference on Sunday, May 11.
“Now that we have assumed the responsibility, we need to form the bodies of political and military power within the shortest period of time,” Pushylin said.
“The military formation staying in our territory will be recognized illegal and called invaders after the official announcement of the referendum results,” he said.
They already are, Pushylin said.
The tense situation in the region is no obstacle to the voting process in the Donetsk region, he also reiterated.
“Even those polling stations, whose work was sabotaged and which were not prepared for the vote, people there made ballot-boxes with their own hands. This did not stop the people from making their own choice and deciding their own future,” said the government representative of the Donetsk people’s republic.
Meanwhile, a decree signed by Pushylin, imposing sanctions against several U.S. and EU politicians, has been posted on the website of the “Donetsk people’s republic.”
The list of individuals banned from entering the Donetsk republic, includes, in particular, U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
Similar but conditional sanctions have been applied to British Prime Minister Davida Cameron.
