By Lauren Gieseke, Editorial Assistant
The self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) has taken a bold and defiant move in its drive for independence from Ukraine by issuing letters to 15 states and entities seeking acknowledgment of LPR “as a sovereign independent state.” This follows a similar request sent to the UN in mid-May which was summarily denied.Nine countries— Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and China— received the letter, as did the Russian Republics of Ingushetia and Chechnya. The largely unrecognized, self-professed states of South Ossetia, Abkhazia (claimed by Georgia), and Transnistria (claimed by Moldova) rounded out the recipients.
Although there have been no reported acceptances yet, South Ossetia is reportedly poised to recognize LPR independence.