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Developments in eastern Ukraine

New Kiev-appointed head of Luhansk region likely to aggravate situation — LPR envoy

According to Vladislav Deynego, Poroshenko deliberately appointed a person whose actions will stir up tension

© EPA/VAKHTANG BARKALYA

MOSCOW, July 23. /TASS/. The new head of the Luhansk regional military and civil administration Georgy Tuka will only aggravate the situation in the region, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko who appointed him to the position is aware of this, envoy of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) to the Minsk talks Vladislav Deynego said on Thursday.

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"Poroshenko deliberately appointed a person whose actions would stir up tension. This indicates the Ukrainian president’s attitude towards the current situation," he noted.

According to Deynego, Tuka is a person "who is clearly biased and prejudiced against the population of our region." He noted that the new head of the Luhansk region, relying on his personal opinion, has more than once accused this or that person of "separatism" by posting information about him online. "Tuka is a person who breaks the Ukrainian law on personal data protection, making public personal information about the families and places of residence of those whom he considers to be separatists," the envoy said.

Poroshenko appointed Georgy Tuka head of the Luhansk regional administration on Wednesday, July 22. He replaced Gennady Moskal, who was appointed governor of the Transcarpathian region.

Tuka, 52, is the chairman of the People’s Home Front public organization. Recently, he has been actively involved in the fight against illegal trafficking across the line of demarcation in the Lugansk region.

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