UKRAINE: As east Ukrainians vote in referendum, poll shows opposition to secession

haaretz.com ^ | May 11, 2014 4:05 PM | By Asaf Ronel

[UMCRevMom@aol.com]

In a Pew survey, more than two-thirds of people in eastern Ukraine seek to remain in Ukraine.

Many people were skeptical when Russian President Vladimir Putin called for separatists in eastern Ukraine to postpone a referendum on joining the Russian Federation. Either way, the leaders of the pro-Russian faction are holding the plebiscite Sunday all the same. They may be disappointed: In a survey by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center, 70 percent of respondents in eastern Ukraine sought to remain in Ukraine.

Leaving aside the West’s suspicions about a vote taking place under the Kremlin’s watchful eye, Ukraine’s military operations in the east and the clashes in the region’s cities don’t enhance the referendum’s credibility.

[Viennacon]

By the local leaders loyal to Russia who have taken control, yes. I expect that they have much to gain should the regions break away, monetary reward or otherwise. Less so should they stay with Ukraine, which can offer little incentive to them, bankrupt as they are.

[Mike Darancette]

I expect that they have much to gain should the regions break away, monetary reward or otherwise.

Yes they will be given the property of the ethnically cleansed Ukrainians.

[AdmSmith]

There is no electoral commission. Nor are there procedures for counting the votes or for determining the all-important turnout. (Remember Stalin’s maxim: “the election itself does not count, all that matters is who counts”).
http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2014/05/11/why-hold-ukraine-referendums-the-world-knows-are-shams-putin-has-his-reasons/

[UMCRevMom@aol.com]

These are the principal findings from the latest survey in Ukraine by the Pew Research Center based on face-to-face interviews of randomly selected adults from across the countr

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

Most in Serbia did not want Kosovo to ultimately have a referendum for autonomy. But Clinton wanted it....

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

If Clinton/Obama support the Kosovo autonomy vote, then how can they not support the Eastern Ukraine provinces’ autonomy vote?

As I said in a past thread, the Kosovo autonomy vote opened up a can a worms, and is just one more part of Clinton's “legacy.”

The EU, Merkel, Hollande and Obama will either be seen as weak if they back down now, or hypocrites if they are against the Eastern Ukraine provinces’ vote.