Serbian MPs Queried for Observing East Ukraine Polls

Two MPs from Serbia's ruling Progressive Party are in hot water for monitoring separatist elections in eastern Ukraine.

Following opposition accusations about their actions in parliament, Progressive Party MP Zoran Babic said the two MPs went to the separatist headquarters of Donetsk as citizens and not as representatives of the Serbian parliament.

"Branislav Blazic and Vladimir Djukanovic did not have a travel order either from government or from the parliament. We will discuss their private moves during the next party meeting and make adequate decisions," Babic said in parliament on Tuesday.

The debate came after Borislav Stefanovic, an MP from the opposition Democratic Party, asked whether Djukanovic and Blazic would face any consequences for their appearance at the unofficial elections on Sunday.

"Djukanovic and Blazic were observers for elections that Serbia, the EU and Ukraine did not recognize. Given the government policy and [Prime Minister Aleksandar] Vucic's policy of supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, the question is what consequences they will face," Stefanovic asked.

The activities of the two MPs in Eastern Ukraine caused a sharp discussion as Serbia supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and because Sunday's elections held by pro-Russian separatists have been labelled as illegal by the EU, although Russia has said it recognises the results.  

The role of international observers in the polls has also been slated by the Ukrainian ambassador to the UN, Yuriy Sergeyev, who said they "entered Ukraine illegally and engaged in illegal activities," the Russian news agency Tass reported on Tuesday.

According to Sergeyev, they violated Ukrainian law.