Heads of the self-proclaimed ‘LNR’ and the Russian-occupied Kherson region appeal to ‘join Russia’ following the ‘referendums’

Volodymyr Saldo, head of the Russian-installed administration of the occupied Kherson region, has appealed to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, requesting that the Kherson region be joined to Russia. RIA Novosti reports that Saldo published his appeal on Telegram.

Leonid Pasechnik, head of the self-proclaimed “LNR,” has also addressed Vladimir Putin. In a recorded video, Pasechnik made a “request” that Russia’s president “consider the question of the LNR joining the Russian Federation as a federal subject.” In his address, Pasechnik also said that the “LNR” “recognizes its historical, cultural and spiritual ties with the multinational people of the RF [Russian Federation].”

Some sources speculate that Putin might officially declare the self-proclaimed “DNR” and “LNR,” as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, to be parts of Russia on Sept. 30. Both chambers of the Russian parliament are expected to pass new legislation paving the way to the annexation.

According to the Interfax, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said that the Duma is to hold a special meeting on Oct. 3. Volodin did not elaborate on the meeting’s purpose.

Russia’s Federation Council may ratify the annexation at the council meeting scheduled for Oct. 4. The council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko thinks that there’s no cause for an emergency meeting in connection with these plans.

Earlier on Sept. 28, Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed “DNR,” stated that he was traveling to Moscow to complete “the legal process of joining the RF [Russian Federation].” Leonid Pasechnik, head of the self-proclaimed “LNR,” made a similar statement about traveling to Russia.

A day earlier, the results of Russian-staged “referendums” in the self-proclaimed “LNR,” “DNR,” as well as the occupied Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, were announced. In all four regions, over 90 percent of the supposed “votes” were claimed to be in favor of joining Russia.

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