Poroshenko accused Russia of “hard attack” on the Minsk agreement – RBC

During the voting on the election of the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the deputies of the People’s Council of the Republic in one of the polling stations. Archival photo

Photo: TASS

The holding of elections on 18 October breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republic (DNI and LC) would be devastating consequences for the de-escalation of the conflict in the Donbass, and will mean “tough attack Russia” at the Minsk agreement. This was stated by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, at a joint press conference in Lviv with the head of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski.

«Attempts to October 18 illegal, in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and criteria of the OSCE, the elections will mean a hard attack of the Russian Federation Minsk on the agreements reached February 12, 2015, “- said Poroshenko (quoted by Interfax-Ukraine).

He added that the holding of elections in the DNI and LC” irresponsible “and would have” devastating consequences for the process de-escalation of tension in certain regions of Donetsk and Luhansk region ».

Poroshenko stressed that if the allegations of election will be approved by Russia, Ukraine” will get a very unpleasant and dangerous precedent ».

According to the Poroshenko, Minsk protocol signed in September last year, has been “attacked” by Russia. It was November 2, 2014, when general elections were held in the DNI and LC.

«When Minsk was attacked by a protocol signed in September 2014? November 2, 2014, when Russian authorities held feykovye, illegal elections in the occupied territories, which destroyed all the progress and prospects, which were developed for the implementation of the Minsk process, “- Poroshenko said.

Earlier Thursday, the President of Ukraine sent to the Verkhovna Rada the draft amendments to the Constitution in the part of the decentralization of the state. In the DNI and LC assured that Kiev is not agreed with them amendments, which is a violation of the Minsk agreements. According to the Speaker of the People’s Council DNI Andrew Purgina this issue plan to raise the self-proclaimed republic during the meeting of the contact group in Minsk, which will be held July 7.

The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized Poroshenko proposed amendments to the constitution of Ukraine. As deputy head of department Grigory Krasin, Kiev “totally ignores the proposals for political reform, which are put forward by representatives of Donetsk and Lugansk».

The local elections on the whole territory of the breakaway republics were appointed on October 18, 2015. In a statement, the head of DNR Alexander Zakharchenko was said that elections in Ukraine mentioned in the law on the special status of Donbass.