Local elections in Donbas are only possible under Ukrainian law, with the participation of the Central Election Commission and Ukrainian political parties, as well as after the withdrawal of Russian troops, disarmament of illegal armed groups and regaining control over the Ukrainian-Russian border, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“If we are talking about elections in Donbas, we have to understand that they can only take place under Ukrainian law. This means that all parties should have the opportunity to be elected there. And who will go there if there are troops? And who will be there to ensure security?” the Head of State said during a press marathon. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also answered the questions of journalists about the documents by which Ukraine could oblige the Russian Federation to withdraw its military units from the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas, as well as who and how will guarantee the disarmament of the illegal military formations. In addition to this the parties discussed whether the principle would be documented in case of absence of withdrawal of foreign troops and the illegal military formations. Thus the elections will not take place.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the answers to all these questions are enshrined in the Minsk Agreements. “There are steps: ceasefire, withdrawal of all foreign military formations. And all this is described before the election ” he noted.
“The only complicated issue is connected with the elections which take place at first and then the border controlled by Ukraine. Therefore, we will continue our policy, it is necessary to solve it absolutely differently,” the President added.
He noted that the elections in the temporarily occupied territories would take place when security issues would be resolved.
The Head of State stressed the results of these elections to be recognized, they must take place under Ukrainian law as well as the access to the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, foreign observers, journalists, representatives of Ukrainian political parties and so on must be ensured. “Because this is how elections should take place,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“If all this happens and the elections will be recognized by the law of Ukraine and the OSCE mission. If they are recognized as transparent and fair, then the elections will take place. And if not, nothing will happen,” the President emphasized.
“It is clearly written there – “ under Ukrainian law.” There can be no military, there can be no rifles and machine-guns, there must be accessibility for all parties under Ukrainian law. If the Central Election Commission and journalists do not have access from the beginning, then the elections will not automatically take place - despite the fact that we will or will not sign,” the Head of State emphasized.