Head of Regional Administration: russian occupiers are preparing to hold an illegal “referendum” in Kherson region in early May

The Head of the Kherson regional military administration Hennadii Lahuta has information that the russian occupiers are preparing a pseudo-referendum in the region in early May

This was stated by Hennadii Lahuta in an interview with the Radio Svoboda project, News of the Azov Sea.

"Unfortunately, there have been rumors that the occupiers are preparing something for the first days of May: either a 'referendum," or as it is called…

I can only comment like this: the whole Kherson region is waiting to be released. It is Ukrainian.

It wants to live in a united, peaceful, glorious, united Ukraine. And to live peacefully as we lived and developed.

And, believe me, having worked for less than four months in my position (I will say): we had so many plans, so many ideas, so much development… But we will fulfill them.

Therefore, I will end the comment (about) the 'referendum' as follows: no matter what they call it, whatever they do, it will be falsification and absolutely illegal," said the leader.

According to Lahuta, the invaders cannot appoint the "head" of the Kherson region. "They don't have a candidate because all the residents are refusing."

"There was information that  (pro-Russian protege – ed.) could be transferred from the occupied Crimea. There was information that they had a candidate, generally crazy.

Therefore, what I know for sure: they would have appointed a long time ago; there is simply no one," the head of the administration added.

Lahuta also said that immediately after the occupation, when there was a threat of seizure of the regional administration building, his team moved. It would be impossible to work in the Kherson Regional State Administration.

"From the point of view of crimes, I know a lot of information about what is happening in our settlements, for instance, Vysokopillia… So far, this is information that comes from people who come from there towards Kryvyi Rih. We are checking and evaluating it when we release Vysokopillia," said Lahuta.

He clarified that it was a matter of "ill-treatment, beating, abduction, rape of women and girls."

The head of the administration confirmed that educators in the occupied territories were required to start the educational process in Russian, "according to their textbooks, according to their program (RF)," but teachers are still teaching children remotely according to the Ukrainian program.

To recap, on April 19, Ukrainian intelligence reported that the Russian occupiers were preparing pseudo-referendums in the occupied districts of Kherson and Mykolaiv regions to declare so-called "people's republics" and join russia.