You're reading: Self-proclaimed Donetsk republic head denies plans to hold referendum on joining Russia

Head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Alexander Zakharchenko has qualified media reports alleging that the DPR plans to conduct a referendum on joining Russia as rumors.

“There will be no referendum. These are just rumors. We will have elections on Oct. 18. If there is a need to conduct a referendum, I’ll personally announce this,” Zakharchenko told Interfax on Sep. 1.

These allegations have been circulated by Ukrainian media and are untrue, he said.

A number of media outlets had reported earlier that the DPR and the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) had been preparing referendums on joining Russia.