Anne Brasseur, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has criticized the decision of the authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) to hold elections on November 2, 2014.

"I deplore the decision of the self-appointed authorities of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics to hold 'parliamentary elections' and 'presidential elections' on 2 November 2014. They are in violation of the Minsk Protocol signed on 5 September and will hinder the implementation of the already fragile peace agreement. They are illegitimate and will not be recognized by the Assembly," reads the statement by Anne Brasseur posted on PACE website on Friday.

She also called on the leadership of the DPR and the LPR to facilitate the holding of local elections, in line with Ukrainian legislation, as foreseen by the Minsk protocol.

In addition, she urged the Russian authorities to honor their commitments under the Minsk protocol and not to recognize the outcome of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics 'elections,' which would undermine the peace process and risk further undermining stability in the region.