Luhansk Regional Council supports separatist 'referendum'

 The presidium of the Luhansk Regional Council has supported the idea of holding a separatist "referendum" in the region on May 11, according to a statement adopted at a council meeting on May 5.

"We are backing Luhansk residents' initiative to hold a referendum on the status of Luhansk region in accordance with the requirements adopted at the meetings of our region's territorial communities," the presidium said.

The regional council also demanded that the Ukrainian authorities stop "punitive operations," bring troops back from the separatists, grant amnesty to them, return to the agreements of February 21 and disarm Right Sector activists.

"Only after all the mentioned decisions are adopted, the situation in the country gets stabilized and people are firmly convinced they are not in danger in their own country, it will be possible to start preparing for the presidential elections. In current circumstances their holding is senseless and irresponsible," reads the statement.

The presidium called on the EU, the United States, and Russia to demand that Kyiv immediately hold talks "between the government and representatives of the southeast, including the rebels, and continue international negotiations on