Donetsk, Oct 1 – DAN. October, 1st is a day of voting silence in DPR observed 24 hours ahead of the primaries. During this period no campaigning by the candidates is allowed, said Interim Vote Commission (IVC) press officer Oleg Balykin.

"Candidates have to wind down their campaigning: take away leaflets, brochures, posters and everything that can influence voters decision. They should assemble their observers, hand out licenses and advise them on monitoring polling stations work," he explained.

Campaigning is regulated by the IVC Regulation dated September, 1 2016.

The first round of the primaries is to be held in Donetsk on October 2.

The vote will be monitored by 1043 candidates observers and 22 international observers from Finland, Greece, Germany, Italy, South Ossetia, France, Czech Republic, Serbia and other. 147 journalists are to report on the primaries, currently they are undergoing registration procedures. Ukrainian media sources have not applied.

The primaries, that are preliminary in nature, are aimed just at exploring public opinion and held before anticipated local elections in Donbass, are in compliance with Minsk Agreements. The vote is being organized in line with OSCE standards. Official representatives of the candidates alongside international observers from OSCE/ODIHR and other foreign and international organizations are free to monitor the DPR primaries.