The self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic in Donbass may soon hold a referendum on annexation to Russia.

This was stated today by Leonid Pasechnik, leader of the self-proclaimed Republic in eastern Ukraine.

There is still no date: "I think a referendum will be held in the near future, the people will exercise their last constitutional right and express their opinion on joining the Russian Federation," said Pasechnik, Tass reports.

Specifying later that "for now there are no preparations for a possible referendum".

Same thing could happen at this point in Donetsk. Moscow last month recognized the self-proclaimed republics of Lugansk and Donetsk as independent, shortly after it kicked off the invasion of Ukraine. The hypothesis of a referendum was also raised for the Kherson Region, south of Ukraine, already conquered by the Russians.

The response from Kiev, which arrives through the mouth of the Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko, is ready: "Any false referendum in the temporarily occupied territories is legally insignificant and will have no legal consequences". Nikolenko, quoted by Ukrinform, said he was convinced that "no country in the world would recognize the validity of the referendum".

All true, but this would not prevent Moscow from judging the consultation valid and annexing, if it wanted, the two republics of Donbass as it did in 2014 with Crimea, following a referendum deemed illegal by the UN and recognized only by a handful. of countries.

(Unioneonline / L)

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