Kyiv: if Russia holds presidential elections in annexed Crimea it will not be allowed to open polling stations in its consulates in Ukraine
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, stated that if Russia holds the presidential elections in the annexed Crimea, it will not be allowed to conduct the elections at the Russian embassy and consulates in Ukraine.
Klimkin also emphasized that Ukraine is against the presidential elections in uncontrolled territories of the Donbas. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister added that if the elections in the Crimea and the Donbas still take place, Kyiv won’t allow elections in the Russian consulates in Ukraine.
Klimkin said, “We will do everything to ensure that all those involved in the presidential elections in the occupied Crimea are under appropriate sanctions.” Earlier, Russia sent a request to Ukraine to open polling stations in the embassy in Kyiv and consulates in Lviv, Kharkiv and Odessa.
Nikolay Bulaev, Vice-Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, responded that that the presidential election in the Crimea "will be held as usual."