In the Kherson region, the Russian occupation troops are preparing a “referendum” on March 13 regarding the creation of the so-called “Kherson People’s Republic” (“KhNR”), the Unian news agency reports. Earlier, according to Ukrainian News, units of the Russian Guard were introduced into the Kherson region.
The Russian troops stationed in Kherson are trying to establish an administrative-police regime in the Kherson region and to persuade the deputies of the Kherson Regional Council to cooperate with them. On March 12, 44 deputies of the regional council supported the appeal in which they stated that they would never recognize attempts to create a “people’s republic” on the territory of the Kherson region and seize part of Ukraine. The mayor of Kherson, Igor Kolykhaev, said that the deputies of the city council also do not support the attempts to create the so-called KhNR. After the Russian troops entered the city, protests against the occupation do not stop in Kherson.
Organization of “referendums” faces criminal penalties
Ukrainian law enforcement officers opened criminal proceedings on the fact of preparations for the creation of the so-called “Kherson People’s Republic” – preparation for an encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine by prior agreement by a group of persons (part 1 of article 14, part 2 of article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on his Twitter page that any initiatives to hold “referendums” in the occupied cities are “absolutely useless.”
“Any initiatives to hold “referendums”, fictitious sessions of local councils, distribution of passports in the occupied cities of southern Ukraine – Kherson, Kakhovka, Genichesk – are completely worthless. Russian troops will leave the territory of Ukraine, collaborators will receive criminal prosecution,” Podolyak stressed.
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