Russia praised the high turnout in yesterday’s ballots, President Vladimir Putin’s press service said in a statement. The U.S. and the EU deem the votes illegal and Ukraine’s government called them a “farce.” Donetsk showed 90 percent backing for the breakaway plan, while 94 percent to 98 percent supported autonomy in Luhansk, with turnout at 75 percent, Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news service reported.
Russia “assumes that the practical implementation of the referendums will be realized in a civilized manner, without any relapses of violence,” according to the statement.
The votes went ahead amid violent clashes between pro-Russian rebels and government troops, who are trying to wrest back control of Ukraine’s eastern provinces before the May 25 presidential election. Ukraine and its allies accuse Putin of stoking the unrest, which is threatening to rip the former Soviet republic apart. The U.S. and the EU are threatening more sanctions to target Russian industries.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-12/russia-signals-respect-for-ukraine-s-separatist-ballots.html
