He said that a number of foreign organizations and individuals have expressed their interest in the popular vote. "The Polish consul in Donetsk demonstrates huge interest. He is an observer and it is important for him to understand what is going on. I personally reply to questions from anyone interested. I answer all questions openly and frankly," the official said.
A co-chairman of the Russian Public Chamber’s working group on electoral monitoring, Georgy Fyodorov, said the organization was ready to send its observers to referendums in Donetsk and Lugansk once a formal invitation is received. A number of eastern and southern Ukrainian regions, as well as the Republic of Crimea, refused to recognize the legitimacy of the interim authorities and called for a referendum on the status of their regions within the country.
Pro-federalization rallies have not been abating in Ukraine's eastern cities of Kharkov, Lugansk and Donetsk since March. The protests have spread to a number of cities in the Donetsk region. In early April, protesters in the city of Donetsk seized local government buildings and proclaimed the creation of the People's Republic of Donetsk. They scheduled a popular vote on independence from Ukraine on May 11.
Donetsk referendum to take place soon, 2000 polling stations ready
The Central Election Commission of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic has set up over 2,000 polling stations and 55 electoral commissions for the upcoming referendum, the head of the Election Commission told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
"We have been engaged in the organizational work and preparations for the referendum for about a month. We have done a lot during this time; we set up 55 election commissions and 2,279 polling stations. We have finished the procedure that usually takes any state three months in a month," Roman Lyagin said.
The referendum on the status of the Donetsk region is scheduled for May 11. Citizens are to answer the question - "Do you support the act on state independence of the Donetsk People's Republic?" Lyagin also specified that over 25,000 members of election commissions "from all territorial districts of the Donetsk region" will be monitoring the referendum. A 70 percent voter turnover is expected in the upcoming vote.
Lyagin stressed that the republic has enough funds to carry out the referendum. "We are holding the referendum on the peoples' initiative. The budget is minimal. These are mostly donations from ordinary citizens," Lyagin said, adding that the printing of ballots will cost about 100,000 grivna (about $9,000). He also specified that the printing equipment was "provided by our partners. We did not buy it." The results of the referendum will be made public on May 12. The activist said that it would signal a starting point. "We will get the right to self-determination and decide the future of our region. If the majority of voters say a 'yes', presidential election slated for May 25 will not take place in the Donetsk region," Lyagin stressed. Citizens of some Ukrainian eastern and southern regions refused to recognize the legitimacy of the interim that came into power following the overthrow of President Yanukovich in February and have been staging pro-federalization rallies since March. In early April protesters in the city of Donetsk seized buildings of local government and proclaimed creation of People's Republic of Donetsk. They appointed a referendum on self-determination on May 11.
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