A decision by rebels in eastern Ukraine to hold elections poses a “great danger” to the peace process, President Petro Poroshenko has warned. He also announced sanctions on over 400 people and 90 legal entities held responsible for Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the conflict in the east. The leader of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic earlier confirmed the elections would be held on 18 October. The neighbouring Luhansk rebel region wants to stage elections on 1 November. The government in Kiev – backed by the EU and the US – says such votes would be in violation of the peace deal signed in Minsk, Belarus, in February.
The agreement envisages that elections in the rebel-held parts can only be held according to Ukrainian law.
The dates of the rebel elections also conflict with Ukraine’s plan to hold local polls in the government-controlled regions on 25 October.
For their part, the pro-Russian separatists and Moscow accuse Ukraine of not adhering to the deal.
Full Article: Ukraine crisis: Rebel election decision ‘great danger’ to peace – BBC News.
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