[Iran Press TV] Exit polls in the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine show that pro-Russians are poised to win the Sunday elections.According to the polls, Alexander Zakharchenko, the prime minister of the Donetsk People's Republic, and his party are on course to win both presidential and parliamentary elections.
Zakharchenko, who was competing against two other candidates for the leadership of Donetsk region, won over 81 percent of the vote, the polls showed.
Donetsk Republic party also outdid three other rivals to claim most seats in the region's local parliament, also known as the Popular Assembly.
Officials said more than 60 percent of the eligible voters turned out to vote both in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Ukraine has dismissed the vote and opened a criminal investigation into it.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko described the vote as "a farce, (conducted) under the barrels of tanks and machineguns," adding, "I hope Russia will not recognize the so-called elections because they are a clear violation of the September 5 Minsk protocol, which was also signed by Russia's representative."