March 21, 2015

Rada OKs bill on east’s special status

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KYIV – Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a draft law to grant special status to the rebel-held areas in the country’s east. The Verkhovna Rada approved the bill on March 17. It was part of a package of legislative proposals made by President Petro Poroshenko and that have been sharply criticized by both Russia and the pro-Russian separatists. The text of the bill outlines the boundaries of particular districts in the areas under pro-Russian separatist control that could be granted special status with limited self-rule. That was a key part of the ceasefire deal reached in Minsk on February 12. The bill says rebel-held areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions will be granted their special status after holding elections in accordance with Ukrainian law and under international observation. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Interfax, TASS and Reuters)

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