LUHANSK, November 2. /TASS/. Queues could be seen in front of polling stations in the city of Luhansk even before they opened at 8 am Moscow time in Ukraine’s self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic which elects on Sunday its legislators and republican leader, TASS reports from the site.
A group of about 20 voters could be seen at Luhansk’s polling station 29 already half-an-hour before it opened, mainly non residents arriving in advance. Female voters from the settlement of Rodakovo were the first to vote in Luhansk, the administrative centre of the region seeking peace and independence. One of them said Ukrainian law enforcers were stationed close to their house.
Most of the early voters are elderly people and those arriving from different settlements, but some young people can also be seen.
“I hope things will come right. So much has been destroyed during this time,” says Artyom, a student from Luhansk.
An elderly voter from the settlement of Luhanskaya said pensions and salaries were crucial in the embattled region. Many voters share the same hope for peaceful life.
“We will have work, we will have everything if we have peace,” a female voter told TASS.
Ballot boxes for the voting are transparent, bearing the inscription “Luhansk People’s Republic” against the background of republic’s flag.
“The voter turnout is high,” the head of the region’s Central Election Commission, Sergey Kozyakov, said.
“Everything is okay. We are waiting for confirmation from three polling stations, that are facing some problems with communication,” he said.