Pro-Russian ‘head’ of Zaporizhzhia region orders referendum on joining Russia

Yevhen Balytskyi, “head” of the Zaporizhzhia region appointed by the Russian government, signed a decree on holding a referendum on “reunification” of the region with the Russian Federation, reports Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

Balytskyi signed the document at the forum We together with Russia taking place in Melitopol.

“The forum saw participation of over 700 delegates from the entire region. All people gathered in the room unanimously raised their hands as a sign of agreement to the question of holding a referendum on reunification of the Zaporizhzhia region with Russia,” claims RIA Novosti.

Pro-Russian “authorities” of the Zaporizhzhia region announced their plans to become part of Russia back in May. A bi-currency zone was introduced in a part of the region, same way as in the Kherson region.

Russian outlet RBC previously wrote that the Kremlin officials were discussing the idea to simultaneously hold referendums on joining Russia in both “LPR” and “DPR”. According to RBC’s interlocutors, the fact that residents of “LDPR” will vote in favour of such a step is beyond doubt, however, the situation seems to be more ambiguous in the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions.

Furthermore, sources of the Russian newspaper Kommersant previously reported that there was a directive in place for the President Administration officials to be ready to hold such referendums by the beginning of August.