Kherson region reportedly to hold referendum to join Russia

Russia's Parliament spokesman said he would back the citizens' decision if they vote to join Russia.

Earlier in September, the so-called referendum in the southern town of Kherson was postponed due to security on the ground.

This is being suspended due to the security situation”, Kiril Stramousov, official from the Russian administration in the region, said.

But today, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev insisted that “is essential” that Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine hold such a referendum.

Medvedev said uniting the Donnetsk and Luhansk regions as an official part of Russia would be a key step in protecting their interests -- while other cities like Kherson and Mariupol would be claimed, at least from Moscow, as part of Russia.

He added that it would justify using the military to protect them.

However, the international community is not expected to recognise these referenda. /Periscopi/