Kiev to present amended law on Donbass special status — reports

The Ukrainian side will present a new version of the law on the special status of Donbass at a video conference of the Contact Group’s political subgroup on Wednesday, a source close to the talks has said.

“The video conference is scheduled to begin at noon. The Ukrainian side is expected to present there its amendments to Article 10 of the law on the special status,” the source has told the LuganskInformCenter.

Under Article 10 of the law on the local self-government in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the key provisions of the legislation will be in force only after the local authorities are elected at snap polls.

The representatives of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have stated many times that this is a blatant violation of the Minsk peace agreements reached in February in the Belarusian capital.

The LPR’s negotiator at the Minsk talks, Vladislav Deinego, has earlier called on Kiev to discuss the draft law on local elections in certain areas of Donbas. He said the Ukrainian side has to first secure the agreement of the Contact Group as demanded by the Minsk deal.
The peace deal struck by leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France envisaged a ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and people’s militias starting from February 15.