DONETSK, May 8 (RAPSI) - The People’s Council of Donetsk decided to hold a referendum on the status of the region on May 11, chairman of the council Denis Pushilin announced Thursday.

It was unanimously voted that that the referendum wouldn’t be postponed, Pushilin said after the council meeting.

The Lugansk Public Council reportedly took the same decision.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the federalization supporters to postpone a referendum on regions’ self-determination for the creation of favorable conditions for a dialogue.

The political crisis erupted in Ukraine in late November 2013 after the government announced that it had halted the country’s association with the European Union. Mass protests, called Euromaidan, swept across the country and led to violent clashes between armed radicals and law enforcers in January and February 2014.

Pro-federalization rallies have swept southeastern regions of Ukraine after President Viktor Yanukovych fled the country.

Protesters, who have refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new authorities, have been gathering since March, demanding referendums on the status of their regions.