Large-scale participation of Donbass residents in election shows increasing integration with Russia - Pasechnik

Society 

The large scale participation of Donbass residents in the election to the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament proves that integration with Russia is gaining momentum, Lugansk People’s Republic Head Leonid Pasechnik said.

LPR residents who were granted Russian citizenship, participated in the State Duma election for the first time. Voting was held online at 144 information centres operating in the Republic, but many travelled to voting stations in Russia’s Rostov region. Chairman of the commission for international ccooperation in human rights under the Human Rights Council Kirill Vyshinsky said that as of 15:45, September 19, some 150,000 Donbass residents who had obtained Russian citizenship, had cast their ballots online.

 “The massive participation of Donbass residents in the State Duma election is another proof that the Republics’ integration with Russia cannot be stopped. The processes gains momentum every year. The Russian World is getting stronger! We are henceforth closer to our home, Russia,” Pasechnik said.

The Republic launched preparations for the election back in May.

“At the forum of Russian citizens, the community asked me to organize the voting. Activists have carried out a tremendous amount of work since. They consulted voters and provided assistance, including in frontline areas,” the LPR leader said.

"It was very important for the LPR that every Russian citizen living in the republic could “exercise their constitutional right and take part in the vote.

“We decided to provide the opportunity for online voting at information centres of the Mir Luganschine social organization, and also made arrangements for trips to the Rostov region for everybody wishing to take part in traditional vote,” he said.

He thanked everybody who had helped to prepare for the voting.

“The results of your efforts speak for themselves,” the LPR leader said noting “a high level of the election process.”

“I thank the Republic’s residents who participated in the election,” Pasechnik said.

On July 20, Russia’s Central Election Commission approved the procedure for Donbass residents who have Russian citizenship to vote in the Russian parliamentary election.

Pursuant to LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik’s order, the Republic opened more than 140 information centers that provide consultations on online voting, and process requests from LPR residents with Russian citizenship who wish to vote in Russia’s Rostov region. Voting was held online at 144 information centres operating in the Republic.

Starting July 1, LPR Migration Service offices began to accept applications from LPR residents for fast track personal pension account number and account registration on Russia’s government services portal. Mir Luganschine social movement offices provide consultations on obtaining personal pension account number (SNILS).

On April, 24, 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree easing citizenship rules for residents of the Lugansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic. The first center for LPR residents seeking Russian citizenship opened in Lugansk on May 6; the first group of LPR residents received Russian passports on June 14. The Republic currently has such centers in all towns and districts. On April 24, 2020, Putin signed a law exempting Donbass Republics residents from paying the state fee for conferment of citizenship.

As of mid-June 2021, more than 250,000 LPR residents had been granted fast track Russian citizenship. According to first deputy chairman of the Russian parliament committee on CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots Viktor Vodolatsky, over 600,000 Donbass residents had already obtained fast track Russian citizenship. *i*b

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