Poroshenko: Donbas elections must be held by Ukrainian laws

09:39, 13.10.2014 1 min read

The local elections in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions must be held by the existing Ukrainian laws, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a statement.

He said it was necessary to elect local power bodies in the areas controlled by the militia and added those elections "must be envisaged by Ukrainian laws and fully comply with Ukrainian regulations and legislation."

The elections "must be observed by the OSCE and other European and international organizations and structures," the head of state underscored.

Lawful and fair local elections can become a way towards de-escalation of the conflict and political settlement in Donbas, Poroshenko said.