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Expert: Ukrainian authorities delay Donbass elections due to lack of chances of success

The lack of prospects for winning these elections makes them unnecessary for Kiev, the more so because they will be monitored by international observers, Ukrainian finance expert says

© Stanislav Grigoriev/TASS

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Diplomat: New Ukraine Rada's balance of powers may hamper adoption of Donbass election law

KIEV, March 2. /TASS/. The reason why the problem of the elections in Donbass and early elections to Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada remains unresolved is because the central authorities of Ukraine are fully aware of the lack of prospects for their victory, former Ukrainian Economic Development Minister and finance expert Viktor Suslov said on Wednesday.

"I think the root of the problem is that the current Ukrainian authorities have no chance of winning the elections in Donbass as well as in the event of the early Verkhovna Rada elections," he said. According to Suslov, the lack of prospects for winning these elections makes them unnecessary for them, "the more so because they will be monitored by international observers."

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Holding elections on the uncontrolled territories of the Donetsk region is one of the objectives outlined in the Minsk agreements. However, Kiev has not yet taken the necessary legislative decisions for holding them. Besides, the authorities say the elections are impossible because of the ongoing shelling bringing to the fore its precondition - to establish its control on the border with Russia.

Despite all this, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier earlier said that the elections in Donbass would top the agenda of the "Normandy format" meeting in Paris on March 3. According to him, the "Normandy Four" will focus on such a major issue as the need to pass a law aimed at holding "elections in eastern Ukraine" by Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada. Nevertheless, "we need security conditions (as well)" to make sure that such elections can be held, he said.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine Eastern Ukraine

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