Poroshenko Decree on East Ukraine to Escalate Confict: Russian Officials

The head of Russia's Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights thinks that President Poroshenko's recent decisions may not contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

MOSCOW, November 15 (Sputnik) — The decree of Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko concerning eastern Ukraine showcases the intention to stand apart from the conflict zone and aggravates the situation, Mikhail Fedotov, head of Russia's Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, told Sputnik Saturday.

"In my opinion, this is the manifestation of the desire to stand apart from the conflict zone. I do not think it is conducive to the peaceful settlement of the conflict," Fedotov said.

"I believe, these measures are very dangerous, and they will hit hard the civilians in the conflict zone," Fedotov added.

Vasily Likhachev, member of the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) Committee on CIS Affairs, also views Poroshenko's instructions as escalating the conflict.

"These [instructions] just increase tensions in this European region and alienate the parties," Likhachev told Sputnik Saturday.

Two Poroshenko's decrees were published on the president's website on Saturday. In the decree on the social and economic situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Poroshenko ordered a halt in serving bank accounts of enterprises and residents in southeastern Ukraine within month. Moreover, he commissioned the Ministry of Justice to move prisoners from the region of the special operation in Donbas and ordered to evacuate all the state institutions and courts from the territories of the military operation.

Following a February coup in Kiev, residents of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine established people's republics that later declared independence. An armed conflict started in eastern Ukraine in mid-April, when Kiev launched a military operation against independence supporters there, which led to a desperate humanitarian situation in the region.

A ceasefire was agreed upon at a meeting of the so-called Contact Group on Ukraine held in Minsk on September 5. Another meeting of the Contact Group on September 19 resulted in a memorandum, specifying the implementation of the ceasefire. Since the establishment of the truce, the sides have been accusing each other of numerous violations.
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20141115/1014782038.html
15/11/14
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