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On Sunday, March 18, 2018, the security regime for Russia's diplomatic missions on Ukrainian territory in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv will not provide Russian citizens access to these buildings for voting.

"Today I summoned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs a Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Federation in Ukraine," Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook on Friday, March 16.

"The diplomat was briefed on the official position of the Ukrainian side regarding the March 18 elections in the occupied territories... According to Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine No. 610 / 23-110-236 of February 21, 2018, Ukraine declared a strong protest to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding that the elections not be held March 18 in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine - in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine noted that casting votes in Russian diplomatic and consular offices in the territory of Ukraine would be possible only if Russia fulfilled the aforementioned requirement of the Ukrainian side. As of today, the Russian Federation has not abandoned its unlawful intentions. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine states that illegal elections on a sovereign Ukrainian territory in violation of all norms of international law are unacceptable," said the minister.

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Read alsoEU doesn't recognize Russian elections in Crimea – MogheriniAccording to him, in these conditions, noting the Russian aggressive hybrid war being waged against Ukraine, Crimea's illegal annexation, occupation of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and the holding of illegal elections on sovereign Ukrainian territory in violation of international law, the interior ministry decided to ban holding at the premises of Russian diplomatic missions in Ukraine the elections that violate Ukrainian law.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine reports that on Sunday, March 18, 2018, in the view of public protest actions in Ukrainian society, Russia's neglect of the legitimate demands of the Ukrainian side, and in order to avoid provocations and possible severe consequences, "units of the National Police and National Guard will ensure the proper protection of all diplomatic missions and institutions, as well as the territories adjacent to them - in accordance with the Vienna Convention."

Avakov clarified that access to institutions will only be allowed to those with the diplomatic status.

Read alsoUkraine urges UN to toughen sanctions against Russia over Crimea"The interior ministry calls on diplomats and Russian citizens to obey Ukraine's lawful requirements - not to provoke a [negative] situation, and to observe order and comply with the laws of Ukraine," the minister said.

As reported earlier, the presidential election in Russia will be held on March 18, the anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea.