More than 1.6 million voters have taken part in the referendum on the Lugansk People’s Republic joining the Russian Federation, LPR Central Election Commission chairwoman Yelena Kravchenko said.
On September 23-27, the Lugansk People’s Republic held the referendum on joining the Russian Federation as a constituent entity. Polling stations opened to voters only on September 27; on other dates, voting took place at special venues including public space in residential areas. The CEC set up 461 polling places in the LPR and 201 in Russian regions.
“As many as 1,260,032 people have taken part in the vote; 402,575 voters participated in the referendum outside of the Republic,” Kravchenko said adding that “1,662,607 people had voted overall.”
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. 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.
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. *i*s
