Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Matvienko congratulated the residents of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions on the start of voting in referendums on joining the Russian Federation.
“I want to congratulate all residents of the LPR, DPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions on the start of voting in referendums. This is a historic, I would say, a hard-won event. There is no pathos here. These days, the inhabitants of these regions determine their future and destiny,” she said.
Matvienko pointed out that the choice is actually vital for the inhabitants of these regions.
“I think I will not be mistaken if I say that people in the referendum are actually choosing between life and death. And I say this with pain. We humanly understand the determination of the inhabitants of these territories. We understand why they no longer intend to endure,” the speaker of the Federation Council emphasized.
She also noted that Russia is connected with the population of Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson region spiritually and historically, and the regions have the right to choose their future in accordance with the UN Charter.
“We are connected with them spiritually, blood, historically. We have always felt and feel our commonality, our kinship. We are our own for each other, but we do not abandon our own. I am sure that the referendums will be held in such a way that no one will have any reason to question their legitimacy. The will is expressed in accordance with international norms and the UN Charter. Residents of the DPR, LPR and other liberated territories have such a right. Legal right,” Matvienko stressed.
She also added that the vote is ready at the highest possible level, and the will of the inhabitants of these regions will certainly be heard.
“Everything necessary from our side will follow as soon as possible,” concluded the chairman of the Federation Council.
Referendums on joining Russia will be held in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) from 23 to 27 September. During the same period, referendums will be held in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. According to polls, the overwhelming majority of residents of the DPR and LPR, as well as Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, support the holding of a referendum. Thus, the RIPSI study showed that in the DPR, 94% of the electorally active (ready to take part in the referendum) respondents were in favor of joining the republic to Russia. In the LPR, 93% of the polled citizens support this option, in the Zaporozhye region, 87% are ready to support it, and in the Kherson region, 80%.
On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect Donbass. The decision was made against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian military.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
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