Luhansk and Donetsk civic chambers call for referendums to join Russia

Civic chambers in the self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk on Monday called on the Russia-backed heads of their regions to hold referendums on joining Russia. Russian state TV aired footage of the two bodies within the Donbas holding votes in favour of the proposal.

The Russia-installed head of the Donetsk region Denis Pushilin also published a video on his Telegram channel showing him speaking on the phone with his counterpart in Luhansk, Leonid Pasechnik. Pushilin proposed to unite the efforts of their administrations in order to start preparations for referendums.

"This is nothing else but the reflection of our people's minds which have been in the air for a long time," Pushilin said about the call from the civic chambers.

Officials have discussed such plans before but the referendums have been repeatedly delayed, possibly because of insufficient popular support. Andrei Turchak, the leader of the United Russia, the main Kremlin-directed party, suggested that referendums in the Donbas and other Russia-controlled areas in Ukraine could be held on November 4 when Russia marks the National Unity Day.