PM declares in Berlin holding elections in Donbas requires implementation of Minsk agreements

The Donbas elections "should be held under Ukrainian laws and in keeping with OSCE standards. Elections in Donbas should be conducted in accordance with Ukrainian law and OSCE standards, "Any other so-called elections are the way to the legitimizing of terrorists. We won't agree to that," Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated at a press conference after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday, April 1.

The Prime Minister recalled that the Ukraine's Parliament, according to the Minsk deal, decided on identifying areas that have special status: "The Government, the Parliament and the President of Ukraine clearly declared - we are ready for holding elections, as we are not going to talk to the terrorists - legitimate authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions should be lawfully elected. But the elections "should be held under Ukrainian laws and in keeping with OSCE and ODIHR standards (OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - ed.)."

"It's difficult to hold elections if there are Russian terrorists with Kalashnikov at the polling stations. The Minsk agreements should be fulfilled. All the conditions should be created for holding free and transparent elections, which will be recognized by the international community and Ukraine," he emphasized.

"Any other so-called elections are the way to the legitimizing of terrorists. We won't agree to that. We're for holding the elections, but this requires the fulfillment of the Minsk [agreements], the announcement of the full ceasefire, withdrawal of troops, Russian mercenaries should be removed from the territory and a free electoral process should be guaranteed," Areseniy Yatsenyuk stressed.