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May 12, 2014

Pro-Russian Groups Claim Victory in Fraught Referendum 
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Pro-Russian groups have claimed a landslide victory for a hastily
organized referendum on self-rule in two parts of eastern Ukraine. The
vote was held in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk less than two months
after residents in Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.
The Russian government says it respects the results of the referendum,
but has not indicated any plans to annex eastern Ukraine like it annexed
Crimea. The referendum was held under chaotic circumstances with
irregular voting conditions and violence between pro-Russian and
pro-Ukrainian forces.

 

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