Ukraine Votes for Parliament amid Ongoing Donbass Tensions

Ukraine is holding on Sunday early elections for a new Parliament called by President Petro Poroshenko.

About 33 million Ukrainians are eligible to vote in 32 000 polling stations across the country.

A total of 29 political entities are running for seats in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament.

Tensions remain in the country's Donbass region as some polling stations have not opened in a number of towns and villages partially or fully controlled by pro-Russian self-proclaimed authorities.

Some three million people in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbass, where insurgents are still refusing to recognize the full authority of Kiev despite a fragile ceasefire signed in September.  

In areas near the southeastern border with Russia, rebels earlier announced their plans to hold their own poll on November 2.

In self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, leaflets also call on locals not to fall to "the propaganda of the Kiev junta", warning everyone who decides to vote will be prosecuted under martial law.

The fly-sheets also contain death threats to members of electoral commissions.

The Poroshenko bloc, set up by the President, is expected to win the snap poll for the 450 seats in Ukraine's Parliament.

Poroshenko himself, who is currently in the Donbass according to his own twitter account, earlier announced a coalition agreement draft project had already been prepared and included the so-called "Strategy 2020", under which Ukraine is to apply for EU membership in 2020.

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