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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Self-proclaimed Donetsk republic leader sees no need for new independence referendum

DPR’s head Alexander Zakharchenko said that a referendum on certain issues may be held

Self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic leader Alexander Zakharchenko Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic leader Alexander Zakharchenko

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

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MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. The authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) believe there is no need to hold another referendum on its independence, DPR head Alexander Zakharchenko said on Monday at the meeting with local mayors and heads of districts.

"Now we see no need to hold an additional independence referendum. We have already proved to everyone that we want to develop as a state that is independent from Ukraine, that’s why at the moment we see no sense in the rerun of a referendum," Zakharchenko was quoted by the Donetsk news agency as saying.

Zakharchenko noted that "possibly, a referendum on certain issues should be held."

The Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics declared themselves sovereign states in April 2014 in response to Kiev’s attempts to suppress the opposition in south-eastern Ukraine. After the May 2014 referendums, both regions signed an agreement on formation of the Union of People’s Republics, Novorossiya.

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Eastern Ukraine

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