Almost 40,000 People In Donetsk Celebrating Independence Referendum Anniversary- Organizer

Almost 40,000 people are taking part on Saturday in celebrations of the Donetsk People Republic's Day, dated to the fifth anniversary of the referendum on its independence, in the republic's capital of Donetsk, the organizers of the event told reporters

DONETSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th May, 2019) Almost 40,000 people are taking part on Saturday in celebrations of the Donetsk People Republic's Day, dated to the fifth anniversary of the referendum on its independence, in the republic's capital of Donetsk, the organizers of the event told reporters.

A "Ribbon of Time" march inaugurated the celebration. A column, led by the leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and representatives of foreign delegations, is moving along the Artema Street toward the Lenin Square in downtown Donetsk. Participants of the march are carrying posters depicting key events of the DPR history.

Traffic is suspended in the center of the capital.

At the Lenin Square, a flash mob will be organized, as well as a concert, in which Russian singers Alexey Vorobiev and Stas Kostyushkin will take part, among other artists.

DPR head Denis Pushilin, representatives of DPR ministries and agencies, and over 170 members of 17 foreign delegations are taking part in the celebrations. The head of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), also located in eastern Ukraine, Leonid Pasechnik, and the president of South Ossetia, Anatoly Bibilov, have arrived in the DPR, as well as Sergei Aksyonov, the head of the Russian republic of Crimea, Abkhaz Prime Minister Valery Bganba and a number of Russian lawmakers.

Politicians and public figures from Italy, France, Belgium, Serbia, Germany, Austria, Norway, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Syria and the United States are also present.

Fireworks will culminate the celebration of the Republic's Day.

The DPR and the LPR declared independence in 2014, refusing to recognize the new Ukrainian government, which they believed had come to power in a coup. Kiev in response launched a military operation against the self-proclaimed republics. In February 2015, the conflicting parties signed a ceasefire agreement in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, but the situation in the region remains tense.

On May 11, 2014, a referendum organized by supporters of federalization of Ukraine took place in the Donetsk Region. According to the DPR Central Election Commission, over 2.5 million people participated in the vote and 89.7 percent of voters backed the independence of the region.