MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) — New sanctions against Russia for recognizing the elections in the self-proclaimed people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas would be unprecedented and foolish, founder of the Indipendenza Veneta (Independent Veneto) movement Alessio Morosin said.
"It would be foolish of the European Union to impose new sanctions against Russia for the mere reason that it officially recognizes the elections of November 2. There has been no analogous precedent in international practice," Morosin told RIA Novosti.
Morosin added that the actions of those disapproving of the November 2 elections contradict the ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk on September 5 between the independence supporters and the Kiev authorities.
"In reality, the agreement stipulates a peaceful regulation of the conflict, and elections are the highest expression of democracy," he stated.
Morosin called upon the European Union to monitor the elections in Donetsk and Luhansk. The EU, however, earlier said the elections would come against the Minsk agreement on the regulation of the crisis in Donbas, and that it would not recognize them.
In April, Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation in the country's southeast, where independence supporters refused to accept the new government that was put in power following a coup in February.
Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine held referendums this May on self-determination. Over 90 percent of the voters cast their votes for greater autonomy. The territories declared themselves sovereign states as a result.
