Lugansk Republic Head Expects Provocations Amid Ukrainie's Elections

Valery Bolotov (C), pro-Russian self-declared governor Lugansk region, deliveres a message to the residents of Lugansk during the announcement of the May 11 refereendum's results. Photo by EPA/BGNES.

Kiev authorities may stage provocations during the presidential elections in Ukraine, the people's governor of the Lugansk People's Republic,Valery Bolotov, said Saturday.

"I recommend Lugansk People's Republic nationals not to go to the polling stations as we have information about provocations being prepared by the Ukrainian government and National Guard. They will be conducted to later accuse the Army of the Southeast of disrupting the elections," Bolotov said, as quoted by Itar-Tass.

According to Bolotov, Kiev authorities may cause provocations in order to accuse the Southeast Army, a paramilitary formation that appeared during ongoing protests in Ukraine's southeast, of disrupting the vote.

Eighteen candidates are running in the presidential elections to be held on Sunday, May 25, with confectionery tycoon Petro Poroshenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko among the main favorites.

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