乌克兰东部两地区举行公投 俄美之争白热化

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.

周日，乌克兰最东边的两个地区举行了自治公投，这将使乌克兰动荡局势加剧。一些人担心，这可能预示着乌克兰即将分裂。

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.

尽管俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔•普京(Vladimir Putin)呼吁推迟公投，为与乌克兰政府的会谈留出时间，但顿涅茨克州和卢甘斯克的分裂分子还是如期举行了公投。乌克兰政府呼吁抵制公投，称分裂将引发经济混乱。

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，乌克兰东部地区政商两界的精英将利用此次公投的结果，要求扩大自治权，他们的最终目标是建立一个宽泛的联邦结构，将权力尽可能多的移交给这些地区。

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.

但还有一些分析人士认为，这两个地区可能会摆脱乌克兰政府的统治，变成类似于德涅斯特河沿岸共和国那样的独立但得到俄罗斯支持的小国。德涅斯特河沿岸共和国于上世纪90年代初脱离摩尔多瓦。

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.

选民们被问到他们是否支持顿涅茨克州和卢甘斯克的独立声明。预计官方结果将在当地时间周一晚间公布，但来自投票站的坊间报告显示，大部分选民支持独立。