On Sunday, the heads of the Central Election Commissions of Zaporozhye, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic (DPR and LPR) gave their assessments of turnout on the third day of voting in the referenda to join Russia.
Galina Katyushchenko of the Zaporozhye region reported a figure of 51.55 percent, the DPR’s Vladimir Vysotsky had 77.12, while Elena Kravchenko from the LPR said the area recorded a turnout of 76.09 percent.
International observers also spoke at a briefing in Donetsk on whether the voting met international standards.
Patrick Waab from Germany said that the mobile and fixed polling stations he’d seen did meet the requirements of 'free, equal and secret' elections, while in his opinion, the the open-air ones without booths didn’t due to the lack of secrecy.
Hunlizbert Velasco from Venezuela commented that he’s seen 'some irregularities' but 'nothing that would affect the will of the voters'.
The local governments of the DPR and LPR, as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced last week that voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
Ukraine and its Western allies have described the voting as a 'sham'. On Friday, Mykhailo Podolya, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'.
France and Germany vowed not to recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe'.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.
On Sunday, the heads of the Central Election Commissions of Zaporozhye, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic (DPR and LPR) gave their assessments of turnout on the third day of voting in the referenda to join Russia.
Galina Katyushchenko of the Zaporozhye region reported a figure of 51.55 percent, the DPR’s Vladimir Vysotsky had 77.12, while Elena Kravchenko from the LPR said the area recorded a turnout of 76.09 percent.
International observers also spoke at a briefing in Donetsk on whether the voting met international standards.
Patrick Waab from Germany said that the mobile and fixed polling stations he’d seen did meet the requirements of 'free, equal and secret' elections, while in his opinion, the the open-air ones without booths didn’t due to the lack of secrecy.
Hunlizbert Velasco from Venezuela commented that he’s seen 'some irregularities' but 'nothing that would affect the will of the voters'.
The local governments of the DPR and LPR, as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced last week that voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
Ukraine and its Western allies have described the voting as a 'sham'. On Friday, Mykhailo Podolya, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'.
France and Germany vowed not to recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe'.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.
On Sunday, the heads of the Central Election Commissions of Zaporozhye, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic (DPR and LPR) gave their assessments of turnout on the third day of voting in the referenda to join Russia.
Galina Katyushchenko of the Zaporozhye region reported a figure of 51.55 percent, the DPR’s Vladimir Vysotsky had 77.12, while Elena Kravchenko from the LPR said the area recorded a turnout of 76.09 percent.
International observers also spoke at a briefing in Donetsk on whether the voting met international standards.
Patrick Waab from Germany said that the mobile and fixed polling stations he’d seen did meet the requirements of 'free, equal and secret' elections, while in his opinion, the the open-air ones without booths didn’t due to the lack of secrecy.
Hunlizbert Velasco from Venezuela commented that he’s seen 'some irregularities' but 'nothing that would affect the will of the voters'.
The local governments of the DPR and LPR, as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced last week that voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
Ukraine and its Western allies have described the voting as a 'sham'. On Friday, Mykhailo Podolya, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'.
France and Germany vowed not to recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe'.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.