Presidential administration reiterates that elections cannot be held in occupied territories

"Any elections, if they are carried in the territory occupied by Russian mercenaries, won't be recognized if they are carried out contrary to Ukrainian legislation and not under those conditions under which the elections should be held on the territory of Ukraine – this includes mandatory organizational work of the Central Election Commission and mandatory participation of international observers and journalists," presidential administration spokesman on army operation in eastern Ukraine Andriy Lysenko said at a briefing on Wednesday. "We see no conditions for holding elections on the occupied territories so far," he added. The local elections throughout Ukraine except for parts of eastern regions controlled by the pro-Russian separatists are to be held October 25.