Russia should press on separatists to hold elections in Donbas under Ukrainian law - Biden
The conduct of the elections in the territories beyond the control of Kyiv in Donetsk and Luhansk regions according to Ukrainian laws and OSCE standards depends on Russia, U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden has said.
Russia must put pressure on the separatists to hold elections in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and the OSCE standards, he said, speaking from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Tuesday.
According to the U.S. vice president, in order to hold the elections in Donbas it is necessary to ensure full access to the media, a well as free participation of Ukrainian political parties in the electoral process; the OSCE observers also should be free to carry out their functions.
Biden addressed the residents of Donbas saying that the alternative to this was to continue to live under the separatists and criminals who refuse humanitarian aid and deny access to such international organizations as Doctors Without Borders. This is not the future that Ukrainians want for their children, the vice president said adding that therefore it was necessary to complete the implementation of the Minsk agreements, including the holding of fair elections.
