Head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) Alexander Zakharchenko has qualified media reports alleging that the DNR plans to conduct a referendum on joining Russia as rumors.
"There will be no referendum. These are just rumors. We will have elections on October 18. If there is a need to conduct a referendum, I'll personally announce this," Zakharchenko told Interfax on Sept.1.
These allegations have been circulated by Ukrainian media and are untrue, he said.
A number of media outlets had reported earlier that the DNR and the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic had been preparing referendums on joining Russia.
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.