Historical archive

On the elections in the self-proclaimed "people's republics" in Donetsk and Luhansk

Historical archive

Published under: Solberg's Government

Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

– Norway calls for the announced elections to be cancelled. Any such elections are entirely illegitimate and will undermine efforts to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine. Norway urges all sides to comply with their Minsk commitments and reiterates its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, said State Secretary Audun Halvorsen.

The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine is now in its fifth year. More than ten thousand people have been killed, and the number increases each month. In 2014 and 2015 Russia, Ukraine and the two self-proclaimed "people's republics" in Donetsk and Luhansk signed two agreements that were intended to pave the way for a peaceful solution. These are commonly referred to as the Minsk agreements.

The self-proclaimed authorities in the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" have announced that they will hold elections on 11 November. If held as announced, the elections will be in breach of the Minsk Agreements' provisions on the organisation of elections.