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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Polling stations open at referendum in Donetsk, Lugansk regions in Ukraine’s southeast

The question which is put for a referendum in Donetsk Region is as follows, “Do you support an act on independence of the Donetsk people’s republic?”

© © EPA / MAXIM SHIPENKOV

KIEV, May 11, 9:28 /ITAR-TASS/. Polling stations have opened at a referendum on self-determination in Donetsk and Lugansk Regions in Ukraine’s southeast on Sunday.

The question which is put for a referendum in Donetsk Region is as follows, “Do you support an act on independence of the Donetsk people’s republic?” The ballot papers are printed in Ukrainian and Russian with two options for answer - “yes” and “no”. “Polling stations opened right at 8am (5am GMT),” head of the Central Election Commission of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people’s republic Roman Lyagin told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

“A total of 1,527 polling stations were set up. We expect to inform journalists about progress of the referendum at 10am (7am GMT),” he noted. Around 18 thousand people participate in preparations and holding of the referendum and more than 25 thousand people taking into account campaigners,” representative of the Donetsk people’s republic Boris Litvinov told Itar-Tass. Territorial election committees were instructed “to set the closing time for polling stations on their own with due account of security situation,” Litvinov said. “According to the referendum rules, polling stations are to work until 22pm local time (19pm GMT) on Sunday. However, they will be open until 8pm (5pm GMT) in many cities and villages, for instance, a curfew begins from 8pm (5pm GMT) in the city of Slavyansk,” he noted.

Residents of Lugansk Region should answer the question, “Do you support an act of state independence of the Lugansk people’s republic?” Polling stations also opened according to the schedule in the region, press officer in the city of Lugansk Vasily Nikitin told Itar-Tass on Sunday. “We expect that at least 80 polling stations will work. We inform journalists about progress of voting at 9am (6am GMT). Polling stations will be open until 10pm (7pm GMT) on Sunday, he noted, adding that voting results will be announced on Monday, May 12.

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