Russia urges "democratic" Ukrainian parliamentary elections

Russia urged Thursday the Ukrainian parliamentary elections to be held on democratic principles, and called the international community to watch human rights situation in that country closely.

"We hope the elections will be held in accordance with democratic principles and norms, and the process of gradual political stabilization in Ukraine will gain momentum," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told reporters.

The Ukrainian parliamentary elections are scheduled on Sunday. The leaders of self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples' Republics in the east of the country reiterated these Russian-speaking regions would not participate in the elections.

Lukashevich said Russian observers will participate in monitoring the vote as part of an observer mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

In particular, he said Moscow is going to urge the international community to take active and responsible position over the "mounting crimes" of Ukraine's law enforcement structures.

Human Rights Watch, an international nongovernmental organization, said Monday that the Ukrainian government forces used cluster munitions in populated areas in Donetsk earlier this month, which was strongly rejected by Kiev.