烏克蘭東部兩地區舉行公投 俄美之爭白熱化

Ukraine was bracing itself for more upheaval on Sunday after its two easternmost regions held referendums on self-rule that some fear could presage a break-up of the country.

週日，烏克蘭最東邊的兩個地區舉行了自治公投，這將使烏克蘭動盪局勢加劇。一些人擔心，這可能預示着烏克蘭即將分裂。

Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk held the vote despite a call from Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for a delay to allow time for talks with Kiev. The Ukrainian government appealed for a boycott, saying secession would lead to economic chaos.

儘管俄羅斯總統弗拉基米爾•普京(Vladimir Putin)呼籲推遲公投，爲與烏克蘭政府的會談留出時間，但頓涅茨克州和盧甘斯克的分裂分子還是如期舉行了公投。烏克蘭政府呼籲抵制公投，稱分裂將引發經濟混亂。

Analysts said the political and business elite of eastern Ukraine would use the results of the vote to demand greater autonomy, their ultimate aim being a loose federal structure that devolves maximum power to the regions.

分析人士表示，烏克蘭東部地區政商兩界的精英將利用此次公投的結果，要求擴大自治權，他們的最終目標是建立一個寬泛的聯邦結構，將權力盡可能多的移交給這些地區。

But others think that the two regions could break away from Kiev’s rule, turning into an independent but Moscow-backed statelet similar to Transnistria, which seceded from Moldova in the early 1990s.

但還有一些分析人士認爲，這兩個地區可能會擺脫烏克蘭政府的統治，變成類似於德涅斯特河沿岸共和國那樣的獨立但得到俄羅斯支持的小國。德涅斯特河沿岸共和國於上世紀90年代初脫離摩爾多瓦。

Voters were asked whether they endorsed Donetsk and Luhansk’s declaration of self-rule. An official tally was not expected until Monday evening, but anecdotal reports from polling stations suggested a large majority in favour.

選民們被問到他們是否支持頓涅茨克州和盧甘斯克的獨立聲明。預計官方結果將在當地時間週一晚間公佈，但來自投票站的坊間報告顯示，大部分選民支持獨立。