Razumkov: It is impossible to organize local elections in CADLO in the near future

Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov has stated on the air of the Ukraine 24 TV channel that holding local elections in the occupied areas of Donbas according to Ukrainian laws was impossible in the near future.

"As of today, we do not see an alternative to "Minsk". I am not sure that it will appear in the near future. If we talk about local elections, let us be frank: any plan should be implemented step by step, in order to reach the appropriate point in the Minsk agreements. Are the first points implemented? No. Partly, we can talk about the exchange, but it is also not all-encompassing. Partly, we can talk about complete ceasefire at the front, but this also does not correspond to reality by 100%. Yes, months the situation has changed in recent months quite significantly, we see a decrease in shelling on our side, but we cannot objectively speaking that those points have been fulfilled by 100%. Also, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and much more, including the withdrawal of troops from the temporarily occupied territories", - Razumkov said.

He stressed that the elections should be held under Ukrainian law, with access to all political parties and forces that are registered in Ukraine, with free access for journalists, and they must be recognized by international observers.

"As of today, it is impossible to organize this process in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas", - the head of the parliament stated.

Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG Leonid Kravchuk stated earlier that Ukraine had prepared a "Plan of Joint Steps" for the Trilateral Contact Group, containing a proposal for a complete end to the conflict and demilitarization of CADLO in order to create conditions for local elections there on March 31, 2021.