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VOTING IS GETTING under way in referendums called by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine to split from the rest of the ex-Soviet republic, polls the US slammed as “illegal” as the West fears they could spark civil war.
The vote, carried out as two “referendums” in provinces where the insurgents hold more than a dozen towns, marks a serious deepening of the political crisis in Ukraine, which has pushed East-West relations to lows not seen since the end of the Cold War.
Although a “yes” vote would likely be recognised only by Russia, it would greatly undermine a presidential election Ukraine is to hold in two weeks, which the United States and the European Union see as crucial to restoring stability.
And they come as fighting continued in eastern Ukraine, with several explosions heard overnight in the flashpoint town of Slavyansk as the Kiev authorities try to flush the rebels from towns they control.
Troops have been battling the well-armed separatists, who have barricaded themselves in towns and cities in the two provinces where the votes are taking place: Donetsk and Lugansk.
The referendums are “illegal under Ukrainian law and are an attempt to create further division and disorder”, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement late yesterday.
The votes “violate international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” she stressed, adding that the United States would not recognise the result.
Warning
Earlier yesterday, France and Germany jointly threatened “consequences” on Russia if the presidential election is scuppered — echoing US President Barack Obama’s warning of automatic sanctions that would slice into whole sectors of Russia’s weakening economy.
Interim Ukrainian president Oleksandr Turchynov warned that voting for independence would be a “step into the abyss” for these regions and lead to the “total destruction” of the economy there.
Despite rebel claims that the polling will reach 90 percent of the seven million people living in these two provinces, the areas they hold account for less than half that population.
They decided to go ahead with the vote despite a public request made Wednesday by Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone it.
Polling stations opened in schools in rebel-held territory at 8:00am local time.
The self-proclaimed mayor of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, said he expected 100 percent turnout for Sunday’s vote.
After the results come in, “the Republic of Donetsk will begin to function” and cultivate “friendly relations” with Russia, he added.
But another rebel leader, Roman Lyagin, said: “If the answer is yes, it does not necessarily mean that we will be joining Russia”.
A poll released Thursday by the Pew Research Centre in the United States suggested 70 percent of Ukrainians in the east want to stay in a united country, while only 18 percent back secession.
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Why did we ever need planning permission for this??
@JusticeForJoe: in case a storm takes one and someone loses a head.
@JusticeForJoe: because some people thought more than 12 panels woukd be excessive and unsightly. Times have changed.
@JusticeForJoe: to keep the public servants in employment. A pencil pushing exercise
Getting planning permission in Ireland depends very much on who is in charge of looking at it and what humour they are in on the day. We tried 3 separate designs for a sunroom and were turned down for them all. Then we met with the planners, got angry with them for being evasive and next thing you know they decided to approve our very first design.
@François Pignon: you forgot the brown envelope
@François Pignon: So they rejected three of your designs and then approved your first design?
@François Pignon:
Todays planners can’t read or interpret actual 2D drawings anymore, much less use a scale rule. They need 3D pictures these days and still won’t visit a site to meet with the applicant. That alone would save so much time.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: totally agree, it makes all the difference, but I still can’t do it! They’re so corrupt!
Shame we can’t get solar tiles here.
@Sequoia: they don’t work so probably a good thing
@Craic_a_tower: Teslas solar roof is widely accepted as a quality solar roof tile installation. They do indeed work. They just have far more limited fitment options than traditional solar.
@Sequoia: brilliant suggestion, only spoke about EV Tiles yesterday.
Apartment owners very much restricted from installing solar panels as roofs are common areas and therefore do not belong to the apartment owner.
@Dermot Cronin: Owners of apartment buildings should be legally obliged to install them, even though the savings per apartment would be minimal
@Dermot Cronin: well if you’ve no roof you can’t install solar yes that stands to reason.
@JusticeForJoe: Because they are closer to the sun?
@JusticeForJoe: apartments are already more efficient per sq foot than most houses. Roof space per dwelling in apt blocks would generally be much smaller than houses, this gets worse the more floors up you go.
Would love to hear your rationale as to legally forcing apartment owners to fit them, however I suspect you have not thought it through in any detail.
@Sean: The roof of a 4 apartment duplex could easily facilitate solar panels.
Lease and other legal restrictions can be overcome but it is a very cumbersome process.
Well done, keep the common sense decisions coming and keep reporting them.
Is there still a 50cm limit needed from edge of the roof?
@FlyingHaggis: yes I believe that is a health and safety requirement.
It proves that if they really wanted, politicians could easily change regulations when it comes to building/planning applications.
have your say