Ukraine´s interim president on Monday slammed the rebel-held “referendum” in two eastern regions as a “propaganda farce without any legal basis” that sought to cover up serious crimes.
“The farce that terrorist separatists call a referendum is nothing more than propaganda to cover up murders, kidnappings, violence and other serious crimes,” Oleksandr Turchynov told Ukraine´s parliament.
The only “legal effect” of Sunday´s referendum would be to bring those that called it to justice, the interim president said.
“Pro-Russian rebels in two eastern regions of Lugansk and Donetsk held referendums on independence on Sunday amid fears they could bring the former Soviet republic one step closer to civil war.
The rebels in Donetsk declared the results a few hours after polls closed, saying that nearly 90 percent had voted in favour of independence with a 75 percent turnout.
The other province, Lugansk, was due to declare its voting later today.
