MOSCOW, November 20 (RAPSI) - The leadership of the Donetsk People’s Republic is launching military courts in areas currently in a state of martial law, the self-proclaimed republic’s government announced on its press service website.

According to the statement, military field courts will be hearing cases of insubordination, murder, treason, espionage, sabotage, intentional destruction of property, looting, plunder, robbery, theft and damage to military property as well as desertion.

The military field courts will include five judges and two assessors from military personnel with no direct interest in the case. The military tribunal will consist of three judges. The head of the republic’s Council of Ministers will have the authority to appoint the chairs of the military field courts from among the personnel. The military field courts will be hearing crimes committed by servicemen ranked up to squadron commander while the military tribunal will prosecute martial leaders from battalion chiefs and higher.

During the riots last April, residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions refused to recognize the February coup and declared the establishment of two “people’s republics.” After a referendum in May, the republics declared their sovereignty and later established the Novorossiya union. On November 2, the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics held  presidential and parliamentary elections. Kiev does not recognize the republics.