Sham referendum of occupiers disrupted in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
ALONA MAZURENKO — MONDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER, 2022, 11:40
Yevhenii Balytskyi, the "Gauleiter" [Russian-appointed puppet governor - ed.] of occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, said that the sham referendum in the occupied region is being postponed for an unknown period. This is due to the successful ongoing offensive of the Ukrainian defenders.
Source: Balytskyi on Telegram
Quote from Balytskyi: "The referendum will take place as soon as we are finally ready in terms of security for the residents of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
We are absolutely sure that everyone who wishes will be able to take part in the voting comfortably and safely."
Details: At the same time, Balytskyi said that all the technical issues have already been resolved: polling stations are equipped, and electoral commissions have been formed.
He also believes that for the residents of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, this is a technical formality: "Russia is already here, and we already feel like part of it."
Balytskyi mentioned some non-existent sociological research, according to the results of which, 86% of the residents of the region allegedly support the idea to join Russia.
Background:
- Ivan Fedorov, the Mayor of Melitopol city, said that on 11 September, there would be no illegal "referendum" that Russians wanted to arrange in the occupied territory; it was postponed, particularly due to the lack of support for the vote for "joining" the Russian Federation.
- Due to successful Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russian government postponed the sham referendums about "merging" of the occupied Ukrainian territories with Russia, which were supposed to take place in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Kherson Oblasts.
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