2014 Donbas status referendums

2014 referendums in Ukraine May 2014 May 2014 Referendums on the status of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, parts of Ukraine that together make up the Donbas region, were claimed to have taken place on 11 May 2014 in many towns under the control of the Russian-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/pro-russian-activists-in-donetsk-prepare-referendum-for-may-11-343857.html Pro-Russian activists in Donetsk prepare referendum for May 11 Kyiv Post 16 April 2014 10 May 2014 These referendums intended to legitimise the establishment of the unrecognized states, in the context of the Russian invasion of Crimea and rising pro-Russian unrest in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution. In addition, a counter-referendum on accession to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was held in some Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-other-referendum-in-eastern-ukraine The Other Referendum in Eastern Ukraine Atlantic Council atlanticcouncil.org 12 May 2014 26 January 2016 Independent observers reported many irregularitieshttps://www.vice.com/en/article/russian-roulette-dispatch-thirty-eight/ Russian Roulette (Dispatch 38) VICE News 13 May 2014 16 September 2026https://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/11/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html Polls close in eastern Ukraine amid allegations of fraud and double-voting CNN 11 May 2014 16 September 2026https://www.rferl.org/a/explainer-how-eastern-ukraine-referendums-broke-the-rules/25382108.html Explainer: How Ukraine's Referendums Broke The Rules RadioFreeEurope 12 May 2014 16 September 2026 and the results of the separatist referendums were not officially recognised by any government, including those of Ukraine, the United States, and the countries of the European Union.https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/world/europe/ukraine.html Russia Keeps Its Distance After Ukraine Secession Referendums The New York Times 12 May 2014 13 May 2014 The Ukrainian government called the referendum "illegal", and a number of nations—such as Germany, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom—called the referendum "unconstitutional" and "lacking legitimacy". The Russian government expressed "respect" for the results and urged a "civilised" implementation, and later announced recognition of the republics on 21 February 2022, becoming the first UN member state to do so.https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-calls-for-civilized-implementation-of-east-ukraine-referendum-results-1399884791 Russia Calls for "Civilized Implementation" of East Ukraine Referendum Results The Wall Street Journal 12 May 2014 12 May 2014https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468237 Russia recognises Ukraine separatist regions as independent states BBC News 21 February 2022 21 February 2022 21 February 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220221205402/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468237 livehttps://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1082146367/putin-ukraine-donetsk-luhansk Wamsley Laurel Putin recognizes breakaway regions' independence from Ukraine, raising attack fears 21 February 2022 NPR 2022-02-21 21 February 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220221201206/https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1082146367/putin-ukraine-donetsk-luhansk/ live Background 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation thumb|Decree on holding the referendum in Donetsk. The referendums were modelled on a similar disputed referendum held in Crimea during the Crimean crisis. Russia used that vote to justify annexing Crimea. The Ukrainian transitional president Oleksandr Turchynov said that the proclamation of the republics, along with protests in other eastern cities, was evidence of a "second stage" of Russian operations "playing out the Crimean scenario".https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/07/ukraine-officer-shot-dead-russian-soldier-crimea Pro-Russia activists proclaim independent republic in Donetsk The Guardian 7 April 2014 10 May 2014 After its proclamation, the self-proclaimed authorities of the Donetsk People's Republic announced that they would carry out a referendum on 11 May to determine the future status of the region, and legitimise the establishment of the Republic.http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/pro-russian-separatists-in-donetsk-begin-organizing-may-11-referendum/498247.html Pro-Russian Separatists in Donetsk Begin Organizing May 11 Referendum The Moscow Times 17 April 2014 10 May 2014https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/08/donetsk-pro-russian-activists-referendum-ukraine Donetsk's pro-Russian activists prepare referendum for "new republic" The Guardian 8 April 2014 10 May 2014 Many government buildings in towns and cities across Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts became occupied by separatist insurgents as the Republic expanded its territorial control. As a result, the Ukrainian government launched a counter-offensive against insurgents in some parts of Donetsk Oblast.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/22/ukraine-acting-president-calls-relaunch-anti-terror-operation Ukraine's acting president calls for action against pro-Russian separatists The Guardian 22 April 2014 10 May 2014May 2023 An agreement made in Geneva between the United States, European Union, Russia, and Ukraine was intended to demilitarise and de-escalate the conflict, but the leaders of the republics rejected it. They stated that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not represent them, and that an agreement made by uninvolved parties was not binding on their behaviour. Instead, they said that they would only end their occupation of government buildings after the referendums.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/18/ukraine-separatists-occupation-geneva-agreement Separatists refuse to end occupation despite Geneva agreement The Guardian 18 April 2014 10 May 2014 The referendums took place as mounting anger rose against the so-called "anti-terrorist" operations by Ukrainian forces against separatists, which resulted in civilian casualties.2014-05-12 Ukraine: pro-Russia separatists set for victory in eastern region referendum http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/11/eastern-ukraine-referendum-donetsk-luhansk 2022-11-27 the Guardian en Russian president Vladimir Putin publicly asked pro-Russian separatists to postpone the proposed referendums to create the necessary conditions for dialogue on 7 May. Despite Putin's comments, the self-proclaimed authorities of Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic said they would still carry out the referendum.Leonard, Peter. (7 May 2014) Putin: Troops have pulled back from Ukraine border https://web.archive.org/web/20141007073148/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/un-officials-meet-ukraine-government 7 October 2014 . Bigstory.ap.org. Retrieved 13 May 2014. That day a principal of a secondary school in Luhansk was kidnapped by four masked gunmen, local police told the Interfax news agency.https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304908304579561682613804604 Ukraine "Close to Civil War," Says Russian Foreign Minister James Marson and Lukas I. Alpert 14 May 2014 WSJ Public opinion thumb|A billboard promoting the "Yes" vote A poll released by the Kyiv Institute of Sociology, with data gathered from 8–16 April, 41.1% of people in Donetsk were for decentralisation of Ukraine with powers transferred to regions, while letting it remain a unified state, 38.4% for changing Ukraine into federation, 27.5% were in favour of secession from Ukraine to join the Russian Federation, and only 10.6% supported current unitary structure without changes.News – The views and opinions of South-Eastern regions residents of Ukraine: April 2014 https://kiis.com.ua/?lang=eng&cat=news&id=258 2022-11-27 kiis.com.ua Another poll, taken by the Donetsk Institute for Social Research and Political Analysis, found that 18.6% of those polled in the region opposed changes to the government structure, 47% favoured federalisation, or at least more economic independence from Kyiv, 27% wanted to join Russia in some form, and 5% wanted to become an independent state.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/22/ukraine-families-divided-donetsk-russia Ukraine crisis strains family ties in divided Donetsk The Guardian 22 April 2014 13 May 2014 According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Centre from 5–23 April, 18% of eastern Ukrainians were in favour of secession, while 70% wished to remain part of a united Ukraine.http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2014/05/Pew-Global-Attitudes-Ukraine-Russia-Report-FINAL-May-8-2014.pdf Despite Concerns about Governance, Ukrainians Want to Remain One Country Pew Research Centre 8 May 2014 8 May 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140509001422/http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2014/05/Pew-Global-Attitudes-Ukraine-Russia-Report-FINAL-May-8-2014.pdf 9 May 2014 dead dmy-all While early polls in April reported that supporters of independence were a small minority, the Los Angeles Times reported that the later violence in Odesa and Mariupol turned many against the Ukrainian transitional government.Williams Carol J http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-80173097/ Eastern Ukraine holds separatist referendum http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121006015957/http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-80173097/ 6 October 2012 Los Angeles Times 11 May 2014 16 May 2014 An opinion poll that was taken on the day of the referendum and the day before by a correspondent of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, The Washington Post, and five other media outlets found that of those people who intended to vote, 94.8% would vote for independence. The poll did not claim to have scientific precision, but was carried out to get a basis from which to judge the outcome of the referendum, given that independent observers were not present to monitor it. Even with those who said they would not vote counted in, a 65.6% majority supported separation from Ukraine.Separatisten verkünden große Mehrheit für Abspaltung Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 11 May 2014 11 May 2014 https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/separatisten-verkuenden-grosse-mehrheit-fuer-abspaltung-von-ukraine-12934681.html de A 2019 poll showed that around 55% of the separatist-controlled Donbas residents wished to return to Ukraine.ATTITUDES AND IDENTITIES ACROSS THE DONBAS FRONT LINE: WHAT HAS CHANGED FROM 2016 TO 2019? https://www.zois-berlin.de/fileadmin/media/Dateien/ZOiS_Reports/ZOiS_Report_3_2019.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20190917200048/https://www.zois-berlin.de/fileadmin/media/Dateien/ZOiS_Reports/ZOiS_Report_3_2019.pdf dead 2019-09-17 Legitimacy thumb|Marked ballots for the Donetsk referendum inside the ballot box. According to article 73 of the 1996 Constitution of Ukraine, and article 3 of the 2012 law on referendums, territorial changes can only be approved via a referendum if all citizens of Ukraine are allowed to vote, including those that do not reside in the area.Конституція України https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/254%25D0%25BA/96-%25D0%25B2%25D1%2580 2022-11-27 Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України ukhttp://search.ligazakon.ua/l_doc2.nsf/link1/T125475.html Закон України "Про всеукраїнський референдум" Search.ligazakon.ua 28 November 2012 15 March 2014 22 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140322032740/http://search.ligazakon.ua/l_doc2.nsf/link1/T125475.html dead During the referendum in Crimea, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine also stated that there was no possibility for regional authorities to initiate such a referendum, according to Ukrainian legislation.ЦВК наголошує, що місцевий референдум в Криму неможливий https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/3/7017317/ 2022-11-27 Українська правда uk Anne Peters wrote, the referendum did not meet the conditions of international law. The local organizers did not have access to up-to-date official electoral lists, polling stations were not open throughout the entire area voted on, ballot papers could be photocopied at will and there was no independent verification of the count.Peters Anne Anne Peters 2014 Das Völkerrecht der Gebietsreferenden: Das Beispiel der Ukraine 1991–2014 https://zeitschrift-osteuropa.de/hefte/2014/5-6/das-voelkerrecht-der-gebietsreferenden/ Osteuropa 64 5–6 130 978-3-8305-3348-1 de Allegations of fraud The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) released an audio recording on 5 May that they said was a phone call between a Donetsk separatist leader named Dima Boitsov, and the leader of the far-right paramilitary Russian National Unity group Alexander Barkashov. In the recording, Boitsov said he wanted to postpone the referendum due to the DPR's inability to control all of Donetsk Oblast. Barkashov said that he had communicated with Putin, and insisted Boitsov hold the referendum regardless of the separatist leader's concerns. He suggested that Boitsov tabulate the results as 89% in favour of autonomy.2014-05-31 референдум в Донецке англійська версія 06 05 2014 - YouTube YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J18RziLIl30 2025-02-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20140531132552/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J18RziLIl30 31 May 2014 A Putin Climb-Down on Ukraine? https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-putin-climb-down-on-ukraine The Daily Beast 7 May 2014Kelley Michael B. Last Week A Russian Politician Predicted The EXACT Results Of A Rebel Referendum In East Ukraine On Sunday https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-staged-referendums-in-east-ukraine-2014-5 2025-02-19 Business Insider en-US Separatists stated that the recording was fake.Ukraine's rebels say they are seeking a mandate, not independence, in referendum Simon Denyer Fredrick Kundie 10 May 2014 10 May 2014 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraines-rebels-say-they-are-seeking-a-mandate-not-independence-in-referendum/2014/05/10/f979d168-d853-11e3-aae8-c2d44bd79778_story.html However, the 89% mentioned in the phone call exactly match the result of the referendum, which took place on 11 May 2014, i.e. several days after the recording had been published.Wilson Andrew Andrew Wilson (historian) 2014 Ukraine Crisis: What it Means for the West https://books.google.com/books?id=NMK2BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA133 Yale University Press 978-0-300-21159-7 133 Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported that voters were able to vote as many times as they wanted.http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/ausland/europa/Laecherlich-aber-brandgefaehrlich/story/16073354 Lächerlich aber brandgefährlich" (Ridiculous But Easily Combustible) Tages-Anzeiger 12 May 2014 Internal Affairs ministry officials branded the vote a farce, and said that just over 32 percent of registered voters in Donetsk Oblast participated in the vote.http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/turchynov-calls-referendums-in-donetsk-luhansk-oblasts-a-farce-347420.html Turchynov calls referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts 'a farce' Webb Isaac 12 May 2014 Kyiv Post 12 May 2014 Pro-Russia separatists in Donetsk were found with 100,000 pre-marked ‘Yes’ ballots the day before the vote.2014-05-10 Reports: 100,000 'yes' ballots for referendum intercepted in Sloviansk - May. 10, 2014 https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/100000-yes-ballots-for-referendum-intercepted-2-347222.html 2024-05-28 Kyiv PostNo One Knows What the Referendums in Eastern Ukraine Decided https://newrepublic.com/article/117729/no-one-knows-what-referendums-eastern-ukraine-decided 2024-05-28 The New Republic 0028-6583Szoldra Paul Ukraine Seizes 100,000 Ballots Already Marked 'Yes' For Eastern City To Break Away [Report] https://www.businessinsider.com/yes-ballots-ukraine-2014-5 2025-02-19 Business Insider en-US According to Andrei Buzin, co-chair of GOLOS Association, there were significant irregularities in the organisation and holding of the referendum.https://www.bbc.com/russian/international/2014/05/140513_russian_experts_donbass_vote Независимые наблюдатели из РФ не признали донецкий опрос - BBC Russian - В мире BBC 1 January 1970 14 May 2014 Referendum in Donetsk Oblast Organisation A central election committee was set up to organise the referendum.May 2023 Fifty-five local election committees, and 2,279 polling stations were to be established to carry it out.May 2023 A number of towns refused to hold the referendum.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27369980 East Ukraine separatists seek union with Russia 12 May 2014 BBC News 12 May 2014 To cover all the region's registered voters, 3.2 million voting ballots needed to be produced. They began to be printed on 29 April, and printing continued for eight days after that.Kolyvanov Yegor ru:Донецкие типографии печатают бюллетени для референдума http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/936296 NTV 30 April 2014 ru 29 April 2014 The ballots used had no protective features to prevent mass-duplication, and were printed with standard commercial printers.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-vote-idUSBREA480IO20140509 Ukraine rebels' no-frills referendum fraught with perils Matt Robinson 9 May 2014 Reutershttp://www.rosbalt.ru/ukraina/2014/05/08/1266107.html В Донецке уничтожили более миллиона бюллетеней для референдума Росбалт Officials from the Donetsk regional administration said that the separatists would require at least 85 million US dollars to fund the referendum, and that it would cost at least 8 million for Donetsk city alone.http://donetsk.comments.ua/news/2014/04/23/134903.html ru:Донецкие сепаратисты ищут 85 млн грн на областной референдум Donetsk.comments.ua 23 April 2014 10 May 2014 ru https://web.archive.org/web/20140424074743/http://donetsk.comments.ua/news/2014/04/23/134903.html 24 April 2014 dead According to authorities from the republic, however, the budget of the referendum was minimal, mostly being composed of donations from private citizens and businesses. Ballots, for example, cost only 9,000 US dollars to produce.May 2023 By 10 May, fifty-three local election committees and 1,527 polling stations had been established.https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/politics/2014/05/140510_donbas_referendum_or uk:Президентських виборів на Донбасі не буде – представник ДНР BBC Ukrainian Service 10 May 2014 10 May 2014 uk The Donetsk regional education superintendent informed reporters that they were forced under threat of death to organise polling stations in the schools.В Донецкой области проходит 4 опроса одновременно, каждый из них называется "референдум" http://novosti.dn.ua/details/224701/ News of Donbas 11 May 2014 Two official electoral commissioners were kidnapped by separatists prior to the vote.http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/10/putin-s-people-stage-their-bogus-vote.html Putin's People Stage Their Bogus Vote The Daily Beast 11 May 2014 Dettmer Jamie Donetsk and Luhansk residents living in Russia were able to cast their votes in Moscow.11 May 2014 Separatists start their referendum in Donbas Kyiv Post http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/separatists-start-their-referendum-in-donbas-347247.html Non-binding votes were also cast abroad, including in Barcelona as a show of support.pl Niedziela na Ukrainie. Dziś referendum niepodległościowe separatystów w Doniecku i Ługańsku. Wiadomosci.gazeta.pl. 11 May 2014. Local news sources claimed that many residents did not intend to vote while others did not know where polling stations were located. Question The chairman of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, said that the ballots were printed in both Russian and Ukrainian, and asked one question: "Do you support the declaration of state independence of the Donetsk People's Republic?"East Ukraine's Donetsk republic plans to hold sovereignty referendum jointly with Luhansk Information Telegraph Agency of Russia 24 April 2014 http://en.itar-tass.com/world/729337 29 April 2014 The Russian word used, ru самостоятельность, (ru samostoyatel'nost') (literally "standing by oneself"), can be translated as either full independence or broad autonomy, which left voters confused about what their ballot actually meant.2014-05-11 East Ukraine goes to the polls for independence referendum http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/10/donetsk-referendum-ukraine-civil-war 2022-11-27 the Guardian enEastern Ukrainians Vote for a New Uncertain Future in Rebel Organized Referendum https://www.vice.com/en/article/eastern-ukrainians-vote-for-a-new-uncertain-future-in-rebel-organized-referendum/ 2022-11-27 Vice.com 11 May 2014 en One polling station manager interviewed by VICE News insisted the vote had nothing to do with secession. Election irregularities Intimidation of opponents A campaign of intimidation, beatings, and hostage taking has forced many pro-Ukrainian activists and known opponents of secession to Russia to flee the region, leaving the referendum to take place without any dissent or opposing voices. At least 24 people were being held by insurgents in Donetsk region at the time of the referendum, according to Human Rights Watch.Blair David 11 May 2014 The "disappeared" whose voices will be silent in vote on self-rule in Ukraine's east The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10822420/The-disappeared-whose-voices-will-be-silent-in-vote-on-self-rule-in-Ukraines-east.html Seizure of pre-marked ballots The day before the referendum, it was reported in Ukrainian media that a group of pro-Russian separatists in possession of a 100,000 ballots already marked with a "yes" vote for the referendum were captured during the ongoing government "anti-terrorist" operation, and that the ballots were seized by government forces. Irregularities in polling station opening times Local news reported that polling in some occupied schools had already begun a day in advance.2014-05-10 Reports: 100,000 "yes" ballots for referendum intercepted in Sloviansk – May. 10, 2014 https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/100000-yes-ballots-for-referendum-intercepted-2-347222.html 2022-11-27 Kyiv PostObozrevatel 2014-05-10 Задержана группа террористов, перевозивших более 100 тысяч проголосовавших бюллетеней https://news.obozrevatel.com/politics/38691-zaderzhana-gruppa-terroristov-perevozivshih-100-tyis-progolosovavshih-byulletenej.htm 2022-11-27 OBOZREVATEL NEWS ru The referendum began early on 10 May in Mariupol, which according to the separatist group's election official Sergey Beshulya was due to the possibility of Ukrainian security forces returning.2014-05-10 ДНР: досрочное голосование о статусе Донбасса уже начали в Мариуполе https://news.obozrevatel.com/politics/29350-dnr-dosrochnoe-golosovanie-o-statuse-donbassa-prohodit-v-mariupole.htm 2022-11-27 OBOZREVATEL NEWS ru Other locations also reported early voting in some areas. For the remainder of the province, polling began at 8:00 a.m. on 11 May. Intimidation of press observers When interviewing voters at a polling station in Donetsk, VICE News crew were detained for three hours by masked men with assault rifles who demanded their memory cards.https://www.vice.com/en/article/russian-roulette-dispatch-thirty-eight/ Russian Roulette (Dispatch Thirty-Eight) VICE News 13 May 2014 News.vice.com 14 May 2014 Voting fraud Many of the voters were not on the registration lists but were allowed to vote after showing identification documents. A CNN crew saw several people vote twice at one polling station.Brumfield Atika Shubert Ben 2014-05-11 Polls close in eastern Ukraine amid allegations of fraud and double-voting https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/11/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html 2022-11-27 CNN en CNN reported seeing some voters vote more than once at ballot boxes.Voters seen voting more than once CNN http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/11/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/ 11 May 2014 The BBC filmed a woman putting two ballot papers into the same ballot box.http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/05/referendum-on-self-rule-in-ukraine-passes-with-over-90-of-the-vote/362062/ Referendum on Self-Rule in Ukraine "Passes" with Over 90% of the Vote The Wire 11 May 2014 12 May 2014 Wiener-Bronner, Daniel 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070829/http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/05/referendum-on-self-rule-in-ukraine-passes-with-over-90-of-the-vote/362062/ dead Reporters with German newspaper Bild followed a man that they said voted eight times. He was asked twice if he lived in Donetsk. He answered no, which the polling officials said was not a problem.http://www.bild.de/video/clip/wahlfaelschung/wahlbetrug-ukraine-35928762.bild.html wahlbetrug-ukraine Bild 11 May 2014 13 May 2014 Paul Ronzheimer Paul Ronzheimer Lack of polling stations Referendum organisers reduced the number of voting stations, leading to long queues, which were then broadcast on Russian television as "proof" that voter turnout was high.Alternate realities The Economist https://www.economist.com/eastern-approaches/2014/05/11/alternate-realities 2022-11-27 0013-0613 In Mariupol, a city of 500,000, only four voting stations were open;Ukraine crisis: Rebels claim high turnout and landslide "yes" vote in independence referendum https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10823724/Ukraine-crisis-Rebels-claim-high-turnout-and-landslide-yes-vote-in-independence-referendum.html 2022-11-27 www.telegraph.co.uk 11 May 2014 one polling station was set up in a burned-out administrative building that was seized by separatists and which was the scene of fierce fighting just days prior. Most voters waiting in line said they were pro-separatist. Violence during referendum In Krasnoarmiisk, on the day of the referendum, a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard opened fired on a crowd after being attacked by people in the crowd, killing one and wounding two.The shooting took place outside town hall where hours earlier the guardsmen had shut down the voting.Joshi Priya 2014-05-11 Fatalities Reported As Ukrainian Guardsman Open Fire on Crowd During "Illegal" Referendum https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/fatalities-reported-ukrainian-guardsman-open-fire-crowd-during-illegal-referendum-1448118 2022-11-27 International Business Times UK en It resulted in one civilian casualty from a direct shot to head and two people wounded. Paris Match reported that Andrey Denisenko, deputy chief of Right Sector and its acting head in the Dnipropetrovsk region, was present at the scene and fired shots above the crowd's head from a Kalashnikov rifle. The Ukrainian government has denied that the National Guard or any unit of its regular forces took part in the operation and has opened a criminal investigation into the incident.Revelations on the Krasnoarmeysk killing Paris Match 15 May 2014 15 May 2014 http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/International/Revelations-on-the-Krasnoarmeysk-killing-564127 nb Result The referendum organizers stated that 2,252,867 voted in favour of self-rule, with 256,040 against, on a turnout of nearly 75%.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27360146 Ukraine rebels hold referendums in Donetsk and Luhansk BBC News 11 May 2014 11 May 2014https://www.vice.com/en/article/russian-roulette-dispatch-thirty-eight/ Russian Roulette (Dispatch Thirty-Eight) 13 May 2014 7 July 2014 Vice News These results could not be independently verified.Insurgents say Ukraine region opts for sovereignty | Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Morning News. 11 May 2014. Chairman Denis Pushilin announced immediately after the referendum that the Ukrainian military must leave Donetsk. "All [Ukrainian] military troops on our territory after the official announcement of referendum results will be considered illegal and declared occupiers," Pushilin said. "It is necessary [for the Donetsk People's Republic] to form state bodies and military authorities as soon as possible."12 May 2014 Ukraine: pro-Russia separatists set for victory in eastern region referendum The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/11/eastern-ukraine-referendum-donetsk-luhansk 12 May 2014 Referendum in Luhansk Oblast thumb|A ballot paper sample for the Luhansk referendum Question Voters could select yes or no in response to the question: "Do you support the declaration of state independence of the Luhansk People's Republic?"http://top.rbc.ru/politics/11/05/2014/922947.shtml Явка на референдуме в Луганской области составила 65% Политика Top.rbc.ru RBC 11 May 2014 13 May 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140620193813/http://top.rbc.ru/politics/11/05/2014/922947.shtml 20 June 2014 dead According to The Guardian, many voters did not understand the meaning of the ballot question. Result The authorities of the Luhansk People's Republic stated that the turnout was 81%,Separatyści o "referendum": 89 proc. za niepodległością w obwodzie donieckim TVN 24. 11 May 2014 however officials of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs estimated only 24 percent of the population eligible to vote actually participated. Estimates said 94–98% of those who voted did so for separation.http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/05/12/7025037/ Сепаратисти Луганщини нарахували собі 94-98% за самостійність - Українська правда Українська правда The final results were that 96.2% voted for separation.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-referendum-idUSBREA4B06Q20140512 Results show 96.2 percent support for self-rule in east Ukraine region: RIA 12 May 2014 Reuters In the aftermath of the voting, Russian news agency Interfax reported that the leaders of Luhansk People's Republic demanded federalisation of Ukraine as the only way to stop disintegration of the country.Luhansk Regional Council demands Ukraine's immediate federalization https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/204476.html 2022-11-27 Interfax-Ukraine en Counter-referendum Organisation Seven village councils, as well as the districts of Dobropillia Raion and Krasnoarmiisk Raion in Donetsk Oblast requested accession to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.http://www.unian.net/politics/910438-sem-selsovetov-donetchinyi-prosyat-prisoedinit-ih-k-dnepropetrovskoy-oblasti.html Семь сельсоветов Донетчины просят присоединить их к Днепропетровской области : Новости УНИАН Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 22 April 2014 3 May 2014 Dnipropetrovsk governor Ihor Kolomoisky announced that local referendums would take place to allow for his oblast to administer and provide service to cities in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts that wished to accede, and that he was willing to accept absorbing the areas if that was what the local populace wanted.публикация Borys Filatov. http://obozrevatel.com/politics/48623-kolomojskij-gotov-navesti-poryadok-v-donetskoj-i-luganskoj-oblastyah.htm Коломойский готов навести порядок в Донецкой и Луганской областях Обозреватель 30 April 2014 Obozrevatel.com 3 May 2014http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/dnipropetrovsk-region-willing-to-take-over-parts-of-donetsk-luhansk-regions-347515.html Dnipropetrovsk region willing to take over parts of Donetsk, Luhansk regions 12 May 2014 kyivpost.com The poll, entitled "Referendum for Peace, Order, and Unity of Ukraine", was held on 11 May to coincide with the separatist referendums.Donetsk residents to vote in referendum on joining Dnipropetrovsk http://euromaidanpr.com/2014/05/10/donetsk-residents-to-vote-in-referendum-on-joining-dnipropetrovsk/#more-8771 2022-11-27 EuromaidanPr.com en https://web.archive.org/web/20140607015753/http://euromaidanpr.com/2014/05/10/donetsk-residents-to-vote-in-referendum-on-joining-dnipropetrovsk/#more-8771 7 June 2014 usurpedITAR-TASS: World – Donetsk region to hold referendum on joining Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. En.itar-tass.com. 1 May 2014. A report by Ukrinform said that cities taking part in the referendum included Debaltseve, Yenakiieve, Yasynuvata, Avdiivka, Volnovakha, Novoazovsk and Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast, and Alchevsk, Stakhanov, Brianka, Sievierodonetsk, Rubizhne, Kreminna, Starobilsk and Svatove in Luhansk Oblast.http://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-politics/1660602-four_polls_underway_in_donetsk_region_each_of_them_called_referendum_321240.html# Four polls underway in Donetsk region, each of them called "referendum" ukrinform.net 11 May 2014 National News Agency of Ukraine 26 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160202031812/http://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-politics/1660602-four_polls_underway_in_donetsk_region_each_of_them_called_referendum_321240.html 2 February 2016 dead According to the Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC), ballot boxes were mobile and polling stations were available in all areas under control of the Ukrainian military or law enforcement.На Луганщине стартовал еще один референдум https://www.0642.ua/news/532007/na-lugansine-startoval-ese-odin-referendum 2022-11-27 0642.ua - Сайт города Луганска uk Question "Are you for maintaining your territorial community within Ukraine and reunification with the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast?"http://www.unian.net/politics/916671-na-referendum-za-edinstvo-donbassa-s-ukrainoy-prishlo-uje-poltora-milliona-izbirateley.html ru:На референдум за единство Донбасса с Украиной пришло уже полтора миллиона избирателей : Новости УНИАН Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 14 May 2014 ruhttp://novosti.dn.ua/details/224915/ Новости Донбасса :: Известны точные результаты опроса-референдума "За мир, порядок и единство в Украине" Novosti.dn.ua 9 March 2014 14 May 2014Автор: Виктор http://podrobnosti.ua/society/2014/05/11/975437.html Жители запада Донбасса голосуют за присоединение к Днепропетровской области (фото) Новости. Новости дня на сайте Подробности Podrobnosti.ua 19 February 2014 14 May 2014 Result According to CEC spokesman Mykhailo Lysenko, a total of around 2,883,000 people voted in the counter-referendum. 69.1% (1,968,619) of those polled were reported to have voted in favour of accession to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, 27.2% (774,912) voted against accession to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast or separation from Ukraine as part of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics, and 3.7% (105,411) voted for separation from Ukraine as part of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics.http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/05/13/7025252/ uk:Майже 2 мільйони донеччан і луганчан хочуть у Дніпропетровськ Ukrayinska Pravda 13 May 2014 26 January 2016 uk After a few months, due to the Ukrainian military's control of Dobropillia Raion and Krasnoarmiisk Raion, they remained as a part of the Donetsk Oblast with no accession taking place.May 2022 Reactions Domestic reaction Donetsk Oblast Governor Serhiy Taruta of the Donetsk Oblast called the referendum "a sham", and stated that "the Donetsk People's Republic does not exist". He went on to say that the DPR "exists in name only. They have no economic and social programs, no law enforcement".http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/taruta-says-separatists-republic-does-not-exist-vows-to-hold-presidential-elections-in-donetsk-oblast-347598.html Taruta says separatists' republic "does not exist," vows to hold presidential elections in Donetsk Oblast kyivpost.com International reaction Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapić called on the separatists to cancel the referendum, saying "The idea that free and fair voting could take place in these so-called referendums is absurd. Not only are these referendums completely illegitimate in the eyes of the international community, they would be taking place amid a climate of fear, violence and lawlessness that is sure to keep many away from polling places [...] I call on the de facto authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk to call off these mockeries of a vote. All in Ukraine should instead focus on making their voices heard on 25 May, when the country elects a new president."OSCE 2014-05-10 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly president calls for cancellation of "absurd" referendums in eastern Ukraine – May. 10, 2014 https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/war-against-ukraine/osce-parlimaentary-assembly-president-calls-for-cancellation-of-absurd-referendums-in-eastern-ukraine-347227.html 2022-11-27 Kyiv Post France – French President François Hollande said that the supposed referendum "was null and void" and "had no legitimacy and no legality" and said that the election that actually mattered was the May 2014 election to elect a president "for all of Ukraine."Migration 2014-05-11 French President Hollande condemns Ukraine referendums as "null and void" The Straits Times https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/french-president-hollande-condemns-ukraine-referendums-as-null-and-void 2022-11-27 www.straitstimes.com en Germany – Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "Such a referendum, against the Ukrainian constitution, does not calm things down but escalates them."2014-05-05 Separatist referendum would exacerbate Ukraine crisis: Germany en Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-referendum-germany-idUSBREA4409B20140505 2022-11-27 German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a statement which said that the results could not be "taken seriously". Russia – Russian president Vladimir Putin asked on 7 May for the referendum to be postponed to help create the conditions for "direct, full-fledged dialogue between the Kyiv authorities and representatives of southeast Ukraine". On 12 May the Presidential Administration of Russia recognised the result and declared, that Kyiv would be responsible to assimilate the result with the help of OSCE. At the same time, President Putin postponed a statement to "analyze" the result.http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/extraputin-will-analyze-ukraine-referendum-results-before-commenting_335134.html Putin will analyze Ukraine referendum results before commenting Europe Online Magazine 12 May 2014 13 May 2014 United Kingdom – British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "These votes, these attempts at referendums have zero credibility in the eyes of the world. They are illegal by anybody's standards, they don't meet any standard, not a single standard of objectivity, transparency, fairness or being properly conducted .... The important thing is that the Ukrainian elections go ahead on the 25th of May."William Hague: Ukraine referendum has 'zero credibility', Telegraph (12 May 2014). United States – Secretary of State John Kerry met with Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to discuss the crisis. Kerry stated afterward: "We flatly reject this illegal effort to further divide Ukraine. Its pursuit will create even more problems in the effort to try to de-escalate the situation. This is really the Crimea playbook all over again, and no civilized nation is going to recognize the results of such a bogus effort."Ukraine pro-Russia separatists' planned referendum in Donetsk, Luhansk "illegal", Kerry says https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-pro-russia-separatists-planned-referendum-in-donetsk-luhansk-illegal-kerry-says/ 2022-11-27 www.cbsnews.com 7 May 2014 en-US Sweden – Foreign Minister Carl Bildt called the results "fake results from a fake referendum" and added that "Figures from fake referendums in Eastern Ukraine likely to be fake. No way of even knowing turnout."https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/controversial-independence-votes-add-to-ukrainian-instability/article18599173/ Ukraine denounces pro-Russian referendums The Globe and Mail 11 May 2014 12 May 2014 Belarus – President Alexander Lukashenko declared that the Donbas status referendums "don't have any significance from a legal point of view," and promised not to allow a similar scenario in his own country. However, he refused to describe the pro-Russian rebels as "separatists" and expressed his support for the negotiations. Lukashenko also warned that any attempts to deploy foreign troops to Belarus would result in war, "even if this is Putin".http://www.utro.ru/articles/2014/05/22/1196346.shtml ru:Лукашенко предупредил Россию о войне 22 May 2014 Utro.ru ru See also 2022 annexation referendums in Russian-occupied Ukraine 2014 Crimean status referendum 2014 Donbas general elections 1991 Transcarpathian general regional referendum Notes nb References Donbas Category:2014 elections in Ukraine Donbas Category:Separatism in Ukraine Category:Russification Category:2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine Category:Donbas Category:Russian referendums in Ukraine Category:Politics of the Donetsk People's Republic Category:May 2014 in Ukraine Category:Politics of the Luhansk People's Republic Category:Russian irredentism