Asselborn on referendum: "constitutionally irrelevant, totally illegal"

Luxembourg's Foreign Affairs Minister has dubbed a controversial referendum held in Ukraine on Sunday as “illegal”.

Jean Asselborn did not mince his words in relation to the vote by pro-Russian activists over the succession of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Speaking in an interview on German radio on Monday, he said: "This so-called referendum, has no legal basis and is therefore, I believe, constitutionally irrelevant, totally illegal, and of course cannot therefore be recognised."

Despite warnings, Separatists held a referendum for secession on Sunday in eastern Ukraine. The poll has been heavily criticised by the West.

The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, however, described on Sunday evening the strong support for independence.

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