RUSSIALINK: “Kremlin treats elections in self-proclaimed Donbas republics ‘with understanding’ – Peskov” – Interfax

Dmitry Peskov file photo adapted from image at kremlin.ru/wikimedia commons

MOSCOW. Nov 12 (Interfax) – The Kremlin treats the elections in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) held on Sunday “with understanding,” as the republics have no choice but to organize themselves due to Ukraine’s rejection of them, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

“We treat the fact of these elections with understanding. You know that we are talking about two republics rejected by Ukraine, which are under an absolute embargo. The Ukrainian side is not implementing the Minsk Agreements,” Peskov told journalists on Monday.

“Of course, in these conditions, and facing the danger of, say, the resumption of a scenario involving the use of force, these republics have no choice but to organize themselves simply to ensure their own existence, life, and [fulfill] social commitments to the people who were abandoned by their country,” he said.

Asked whether the Russian president will congratulate Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, who won in the elections in the DPR and LPR, respectively, Peskov replied, “I know nothing about that.”

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