Poroshenko Decrees Donetsk, Luhansk as Military-Civilian Administrations
KYIV (Sputnik) — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday signed a decree to redefine the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as “military-civilian administrations,” according to the president’s website.
“It is declared that the Donetsk and Luhansk regional administrations are to acquire the status, respectively, of the Donetsk and Luhansk Regional Military-Civilian Administration,” a statement on the presidential site reads.
Under a law passed by the Ukrainian parliament in February, a military-civilian administration will replace village, town and city authorities and consist of servicemen, law-enforcement officers and specialists under contract with the Anti-Terrorism Center of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Members of the military-civilian administration will have powers to impose curfew and conduct personal and property searches.
Late in February, Poroshenko said that the new administrations would function in the conflict areas temporarily, until local elections can take place.
Under the decree, Donetsk and Luhansk pro-Kyiv authorities have five days to select candidates for these positions.
Large parts of the two regions are governed by self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, who broke away from Kyiv last spring.
Months of fighting in the areas has killed over 6,000 civilians, according to the United Nations. The sides signed a ceasefire deal in February.