LPR referendum over joining Russia to take place on September 23-27 - speaker

Society 

The referendum over the Lugansk People’s Republic joining the Russian Federation as a constituent RF region will take place in the Republic from September 23 to September 27, LPR parliament speaker Denis Miroshnichenko said.

"The parliament decrees <...> to set the timeframe for voting at the referendum from September 23 to September 27,” Miroshnichenko said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the LPR lawmakers unanimously passed the law on the referendum.

The Republic’s Public Chamber urged immediate plebiscite over joining Russia in an appeal to LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik on September 19.

Earlier, Pasechnik said that LPR residents were ready to take part in a referendum any day as soon as it was safe.

A group of activists proposed to set up the headquarters to prepare for direct vote. The Headquarters opened an outreach office in Lugansk. HQ member Alexey Karyakin had said that holding a plebiscite before the liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic was wrong.

On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the sovereignty of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. He asked the Federal Assembly to support this decision and then ratify a friendship and mutual assistance treaty with the Donbass Republics. On the same day, Putin and LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik signed a friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaty between Russia and the Lugansk People’s Republic.

Eight years ago, on May 11, 2014, the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics and several areas controlled by Kiev forces, held a referendum on LPR and DPR self-determination. Voter turnout in the Lugansk Region made up 81 percent and in the Donetsk Region 75 percent. LPR and DPR independence was supported by 96.2 percent and 89.7 percent of voters, respectively. The Republics proclaimed their state sovereignty on May 12, 2014.

The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014.  The Donbass peace talks participants have announced ceasefire more than 20 times since the autumn of 2014. Kiev forces regularly violated the truce opening fire with large caliber artillery, mortars and tank guns which were to have been withdrawn from the contact line under the accords. *i

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