Acting Ukrainian President Oleksander Turchinov accused Russia of working to overthrow state power in Ukraine yesterday, after pro-Russian rebels declared a resounding victory in rebel referendums on self-rule in eastern regions.
Turchinov said the Kremlin was trying to disrupt a presidential election later this month, which is taking center stage in a confrontation pitting Moscow and the separatists against the government in Kiev and its Western backers.
RIA news agency quoted a rebel leader as saying the eastern Luhansk region would boycott the May 25 election. What he called the “Republic of Luhansk” may hold a further referendum on union with Russia, as Ukraine’s Crimea region did under Russian military occupation before its annexation by Moscow in March.
Ukraine’s election is intended to secure democratic continuity and legitimacy after pro-Moscow former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych fled the country in February, and Western governments have threatened more sanctions in the vital areas of energy, financial services and engineering if Moscow disrupts the vote.
Moscow said it respected the outcome of Sunday’s referendums, in which separatists claimed 90 percent support in the industrial Donetsk region, while RIA, a Russian state news agency, reported 96.2 percent backing in Luhansk region.
The results should be implemented peacefully, Russia said.
The EU declared the referendums illegal and increased pressure on Russia yesterday by taking a first step toward extending sanctions to companies, as well as people, linked to Crimea’s annexation.
The rebels have given differing accounts of their plans.
However, one spokesman said these did not include taking part in electing a replacement for Turchinov, who has been acting president since pro-EU protesters forced Yanukovych from office.
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