Despite denouncements from the West (how did that work out in Crimea?) and diplomatic calls for postponement from Putin, tomorrow appears to be setting up for the next crucial catalyst in the ever-escalating civil (and not so civil) war in Ukraine. As RIA reports, Referendum organizers printed about 1.7 million ballots and on the day of voting in the region there will be more than 1,600 polling stations. The referendum will ask voters to answer the simple question: "Do you support the act of state independence of the People's Republic of Luhansk." and will take place from 8am to 8pm local time. Organizers claim that "the willingness to vote is almost total," which makes the decision of the People's Mayor that "after the referendum... gradually, we will move to the Russian ruble," even more economically significant for the IMF-supported nation.
The referendum poll is happening:
Ballots in the referendum on the status of the Lugansk region delivered almost all polling stations in the region, told RIA Novosti spokesman Army southeast Vasily Nikitin.
In the Donetsk and Lugansk regions May 11 must pass a referendum on the status of the regions. In Lugansk region submitted to the vote the question "Do you support the act of state independence of the People's Republic of Luhansk." Voting will take place from 8.00 to 20.00 (9.00 - 21.00 MSK).
"Newsletters delivered to almost all areas, the willingness to vote almost wholly" - said Nikitin.
Referendum organizers printed about 1.7 million ballots. Nikitin said that on the day of voting in the region will work more than 1.6 thousand polling stations.
Which followed this...
In March in eastern Ukraine - Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk - started rallies federalization, dissatisfied with the actions of the Kiev authorities new. Later protests spread to a number of cities of Donetsk and Lugansk regions. From mid-April in Kiev authorities carried out a special operation against the protesters with military support. In Moscow, Kiev decision to use army against the population identified extremely dangerous developments.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged supporters federalization postpone the referendum to create the conditions for dialogue to de-escalate the situation in the country. However, the militia decided to hold a referendum on May 11, as originally planned.
And, as seems likely, independence is voted for, separatist leaders are already making plans...
"People's Mayor" Vyacheslav Ponomarev Sloviansk not exclude that the Donetsk region eventually move to settlements in Russian rubles. Tomorrow, May 11, in the region must pass a referendum on self-determination.
"After the referendum will go until ukrainian hryvnia, but gradually, I think we will move to the Russian ruble," - the words Ponomareva RIA Novosti .
"People's Mayor" explained that closer economic integration with the Russian Federation. "Economically we strongly tied with Russia. Our industry is almost entirely focused on Russia ", - said Ponomarev.
Of course, the West are denouncing and proclaiming the referendum illegal...
- *MERKEL SAYS SEPARATIST REFERENDUMS IN UKRAINE ILLEGAL
- Ukraine govt, EU and U.S. officials say referendums are illegal
But just as in Crimea, things tend to be beyond the control of the West's ire for now...
- Donetsk Separatists Say Vote to Be Valid at Any Turnout: RIA