Dissident: Kiev restricts the participation of immigrants in local elections

Official Kyiv restricts the participation of immigrants in the upcoming October local elections, says program Director at Ukrainian Council on human rights, the international coordinator of the project "UAÌÎÍÈÒÎÐÈÍÃ" Dmitry Perlin.

Speaking on Wednesday at the 11th workshop on implementation issues of the OSCE human dimension, Perlin said about the restrictions on the participation of immigrants from Donbass in the local elections in Ukraine in General and in the Donbas for example, although this right is enshrined in the Minsk agreements.

"Other challenges for immigrants from Donbass are problems with employment, the situation associated with restriction of movement and economic blockade," added Perlin, noting that the number of immigrants from Donbass is about 1 million people.

"according to the office of the high Commissioner of the United Nations on Affairs of immigrants, only as of April this year, 800 961 thousand Ukrainians have applied for asylum, residence permit or other lawful status in neighbouring countries. Of these, nearly 660 thousand people are officially registered in the Russian Federation and 81 thousand in Belarus ", - he said.

Perlin said that the issues of immigrants from the Donbass depends on the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, " for example, it is necessary to prevent a new round of armed clashes. The Ukrainian Authorities must end the economic blockade and to help the holding of local elections in the Donbass ".

Ukraine has appointed elections to local authorities on 25 October. The Authorities of the self-proclaimed LNR appointed local elections on November 1, but in DND they are required to pass on 18 October. Power DND and LNR has stated many times About the conduct of its local elections regardless of the wishes of Kiev and explained that Kiev is in the hands of individual adopted the law " On local elections ", not agreeing with Lugansk and Donetsk, which does not comply with the Minsk agreements. A complex of measures on implementation of Minsk agreements of February 12, obliges the Ukrainian Authorities to engage in direct dialogue with the authorized DND and LNR, for example, on the issue of holding local elections.


sections: Politics