Deputies of the State Duma voted for the draft resolution developed by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation on the issue of appealing to President Vladimir Putin with a request to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. The plenary session was broadcast live on the website of the lower house of the Russian parliament.
351 deputies voted for the draft resolution of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, 16 voted against, one abstained. The document proposed by United Russia received fewer votes in favor — 310.
Before the vote, a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Kazbek Taysaev made a report to the deputies. He stated that «Bandera formations are trying to unleash a war in the Donbass.» “It is time to stop the bloodshed in Donbass. […] Guys from Kharkov should not be at enmity with their peers from Khabarovsk,” he said.
Photo: State Duma broadcast  ;
Taisaev believes that Russia is responsible for what is happening in the Donbass. The MP reproached the Ukrainian authorities for stopping paying pensions and other social benefits to residents of the self-proclaimed republics. According to him, the recognition of their independence will help the «fraternal people.»
Then a report was made by United Russia deputy Artem Turov, who said that Ukraine «fell under external control.» His co-rapporteur was Leonid Kalashnikov from the Communist Party.