Samantha Power: Safety conditions in Donbas inconsistent with holding elections
Safety conditions in Donbas do not meet the requirements necessary for holding elections there.
This was stated by U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samantha Power at the UN Security Council meeting on situation in Ukraine.
Power noted the importance of holding local elections in Donbas in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and international standards.
“To hold the democratic elections, the citizens and observers need safety to be able to move, so that people could express their will freely, to gather without fear for their lives. However, the conditions in eastern Ukraine are in no way consistent with these standards,” Power said.
She drew attention to restrictions on freedom of movement and access to the entire territory of Donbas for the OSCE monitors.
“When Russia and Russian-backed separatists hinder access for impartial OSCE Special Monitoring Mission monitors, starting from Crimea and ending with the territory where MH17 had crashed, – what are they hiding there? Why are they so afraid of the SMM staff? Why do you hinder their movement?” Power asked.
