"Referendum" in Zaporizhzhia Oblast: occupiers bring in film extras to Melitopol – mayor

UKRAINSKA PRAVDA – MONDAY, 8 AUGUST 2022, 17:28

Announcement of the so-called referendum: screenshot from the video shot by the occupiers

Ivan Fedorov, mayor of Melitopol, has claimed that the Russians brought approximately 700 people to the city as extras since they were not able to get enough locals together to film a "pretty picture" for the Russian media.

Source: Fedorov on Telegram

Quote: "In order to curry favour with their big brother in the Kremlin, the collaborators decided to shoot another propaganda video for the Russian media. They brought 700 people into Melitopol from other temporarily occupied areas in Zaporizhzhia Oblast because they couldn’t get enough local residents together. They held a forum in the Melitopol Palace of Culture."

Details: According to Fedorov, Yevhen Balytskyi - a collaborator who on 8 August "solemnly" announced that a so-called "referendum" was to be held - received less than 10 percent of votes in the last election. In Fedorov’s opinion, the occupiers realise that their plans concerning the pseudo-referendum will not be carried out.

Quote: "First he (Balytskyi - ed.) invented a position for himself. Now he is deciding the fate of the temporarily occupied territories by signing confusing orders expressing a desperate desire to become a part of the Russian Federation. In any case, his orders have no legal value. And all the psych ward patients who went over to the Russians will certainly be cured by the Ukrainian special services."

Background:

• On 8 August Yevhen Balytskyi, the so-called head of the temporary administration of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, announced that he had signed an order to start preparations for a "referendum" on "accession" to Russia. Operational Command Pivden (South) stated that Russia does not have enough voters to simulate a "referendum".
• Prior to that, Sergei Kirienko, first deputy head of the Russian Presidential Administration, visited Russian-occupied Melitopol. The occupying administration announced that preparations were to be made for the "referendum".

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