Russian State Duma member from the Just Russia party, Oleg Pakholkov, speaking on Monday at a news conference in Donetsk where he observed the disputed elections:
"Yesterday I toured ballot stations as an international observer and the things I saw there I haven't seen during any other elections, be it in Russia or other countries I have been to as an international observer -- giant lines of people waiting for hours to cast their votes. With this huge turnout, the people of Donbas have shown they want to live and they want to work, especially given the fact that the people of Donbas are truly hard-working folks."
From RFE/RL's latest news story on the vote:
"Kyiv should put up with the fact that the Donbas is no longer part of Ukraine," said Roman Lyagin, a separatist election official in Donetsk, using the term to describe an industrial section of eastern Ukraine that partially coincides with the territory held by pro-Russian rebels.
"Whether they acknowledge the expression of our will or refuse to recognize it, that is Kyiv's business. We have decided it all for ourselves," he said at a news conference after declaring Zakharchenko the victor.
Read the full story here.
More from Reuters:
GERMAN GOV'T SPOKESMAN SAYS IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT OFFICIAL RUSSIAN VOICES SHOULD RECOGNISE SEPARATIST ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE
A news flash from Reuters:
GERMAN GOVT SPOKESMAN SAYS CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN UKRAINE RULE OUT PREMATURE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS, IF SITUATION WORSES MAY NEED TO THINK OF FURTHER SANCTIONS
Here is today's situation map of eastern Ukraine by the National Security and Defense Council:
