The Kremlin is discussing holding a referendum on the union of the Donetsk-Lugansk ‘People’s Republics’ with Russia

In the Kremlin, they are discussing the proposal to hold referendums in the self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk on their union with Russia, writes the RBK newspaper citing four sources close to the administration of the Russian president.

The newspaper points out that the Kremlin does not aim to hold referendums on union with Russia at the same time in all territories under the control of the Russian military. However, the two “People’s Republics” want the vote to coincide, as they are “perceived (in Russia) as one” and their independence, RBK’s sources point out, has been recognized by Moscow.

According to the newspaper’s sources, the fact that the residents of the said “People’s Democracies” will vote for their integration into Russia is not open to doubt, but in the regions of Kherson, Zaporizhia and Kharkiv the situation is not so categorical.

In the two “People’s Democracies”, preparations are already being made, but so far the exact date of the referendums has not been announced. According to the newspaper’s sources, they will be announced after Russian troops take control of the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions and guarantee the creation of a security zone. “We are waiting for the signal from the military,” clarified one of the sources.

According to RBK’s sources in the two “People’s Democracies” all official documents are already ready, voter lists are being prepared, people are being selected for election commissions and Russian political scientists have started working. According to the sources, the version is being considered, that the vote should take place not in one day but in two days. At the same time, as the sources underline, there is no final decision and the whole approach to the issue can change.

Source: AMPE