BREAKING: Ukraine parliament backs Poroshenko’s 30-day martial law in Russia border areas after Kerch standoff

Ukraine's parliament has voted for President Petro Poroshenko’s decree on a month-long martial law after the country’s vessels faced off with Russian ships near Crimea. It affects areas bordering Russia, on both sea and land.
The Ukrainian General Staff was already tasked with beginning partial troop mobilization, according to media reports.The Ukrainian army was put on full combat alert even before the martial law was declared.

The president also warned about a “serious threat” of a “ground invasion” of Ukraine, citing a “secret intelligence document.”

Invoking martial law is seen as a move which is beneficial for Poroshenko. The president’s rating is falling as he struggles to campaign for re-election in March.

However, the elections would have been called off if martial law was still in place by that time, meaning that the president would keep his post despite unpopular economic measures and corruption scandals in his government.

The decree, which Poroshenko introduced in parliament, specifically states that the people’s right “to elect and be elected” might be suspended under martial law, effectively meaning that the government can call off any elections as long as the measure is in place.

Facing a public outcry over the possible fate of the upcoming elections, the president suggested that lawmakers approve martial law for 30 rather than 60 days, so as to avoid derailing the March vote. The elections will go ahead on schedule, he insisted.

[link to www.rt.com (secure)]