Interim Ukraine president: referendum a ‘step into the abyss’ for eastern Ukraine
Ukraine’s interim president, Oleksandr Turchynov, called on eastern Ukrainians to vote no in a
referendum, which threatens to split the country in two. The controversial ballot slated for Sunday will give citizens in the Donetzk and Luhansk regions the opportunity to decide whether to remain under Kyiv’s control or to become an autonomous region.
Separating from Kyiv “would be a step into the abyss for these regions,” President Turchynov warned in a post on the government’s website on Saturday.
“Those who stand for self-rule do understand that it would mean complete destruction of the economy, social programs and life in general for the majority of the population in these regions,” he added.
Kyiv has been struggling to keep the economy afloat for months. Following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych earlier this year, the IMF, the US and the EU all vowed financial support to rescue Ukraine from economic ruin.
The IMF most recently approved a $17 billion bailout package for the ailing eastern European country.
The interim Ukrainian president also warned that the local population had allowed itself to be swayed by “terrorists” who have been acting in the interest of Moscow and
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“A dreadful terror is in train with the support of a large part of the local population,” Turchynov said, referring to the occupation of local government buildings by armed pro-Moscow seccessionists across a number of cities in eastern Ukraine.
“It is a complex problem with a population deceived by [Russian] propaganda support terrorists.”
The US and other Western leaders have told the UN Security Council that Moscow has driven the separatist movement, based on collected evidence which revealed well-coordinated take overs of municipalities.
Turchynov invited separatists to participate in roundtable talks. However, he rejected the inclusion of “terrorists” in any negotiations.
Merkel, Hollande threaten sanctions
The EU is likely to extend its selected sanctions against Russia on Monday over the referendum. European commission member Janusz Lewandoski said Brussels would target about 15 people and several Crimean branches of Ukrainian companies taken over by Russians.
Moreover, the question of whether general elections for Ukraine would go ahead on May 25 also resurfaced on Saturday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on Saturday issued
a joint statement threatening Russia with further sanctions if the election did not go ahead.
The two leaders also called on all sides to begin disarming irregular forces in Ukraine under the supervision of the OSCE by May 15 at the latest, and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to do more to reduce tensions in the country.
Red Cross hostages freed
Tensions remained high in Ukraine on Saturday with news of another abduction of aid workers and fears of more deadly clashes between protesters and police.
Earlier in the day,
pro-Russian rebels released nine Red Cross workers who had been abducted the previous evening. Among them were eight Ukrainians and one Swiss national.
Chaotic violence gripped the region on Friday as pro-Russian militants and Ukrainian battled for control of local governments.
In Mariupol, at least seven people were killed and 39 wounded, as well as at least 20 pro-Russian militants according to regional authorities.
kms/jm (AP, Reuters, dpa)