In Ukraine, in the self-proclaimed republics of Lugansk and Donetsk, in Donbass, and in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, ballot boxes were opened for the second day of voting for the referendum for accession to the Russian federation: consultation not recognized by the majority of the international community. The vote, recalls the Tass agency on Twitter, will continue until 27 September. Meanwhile, Kiev and the West have called the voting a “stage“.
Turkey did not recognize the results of a fake referendum in Crimea in 2014 and has the same clear position regarding the sham referendums that Russia is conducting in the occupied territories of Ukraine, the spokesman for the Turkish presidency said. Abraham Kalin, Ukrinform reports citing CNN Türk. “We do not consider the unilateral referendum attempts correct, as we did not recognize the Crimean referendum in 2014 and its result, and our position on such referendums is clear. We recognize the territorial integrity of the people and state Ukrainians. We’re with Ukraine, “Kalin said.
In an interview with Politico.eu the president of the European Council Charles Michel said he was in favor “in principle” of the hypothesis that Europe would open its doors to fleeing Russiansafter the announcement of partial mobilization by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Michel specified that the EU should show “an openness to those who do not want to be exploited by the Kremlin”.
“We G7 leaders strongly condemn the sham referendums, which Russia tries to use to create a false pretext, to change the status of Ukrainian territorial sovereignty, subject to ongoing aggression from Russia.” The members of the G7 write it in a note. “These actions clearly violate the charter of the United Nations and international law, and go in the diametrically opposite direction to the rule of law among nations”, it continues. “We will never recognize these referendums which appear to be a step towards Russian annexation and we will never recognize an alleged annexation if it happens.” That’s what we read in a note of G7 leaders on Russian referendums in Ukraine. The “farce referendums” launched today by Russia “have no legal effect and legitimacy as demonstrated by the hasty methods of their organization, which in no way respects democratic norms, and by the blatant intimidation of the local population”.
“We are ready to impose new economic costs on Russia, on individuals and entities, inside and outside Russia, who are giving political or economic support to Russia’s illegal attempt to change the status of the Ukrainian territory. “ The leaders of the G7 say this in a statement on the referendum in progress in Ukraine.
“The Russian occupiers have organized armed groups to surround homes and force people to participate in the so-called ‘referendum’. Citizens have been threatened:” Those who do not take part in the vote will automatically be fired from work. “” The authorities have banned the local population to leave the city between 23 and 27 September (dates on which the annexation referendum to Russia is held) “, said the Ukrainian governor in exile of Lugansk Sergey Gaidai, reported by the Guardian.
Moscow for its part argues that the referendums in the (self-proclaimed) People’s Republics of Donetsk (PRD) and Lugansk (PRL) and other territories comply with international standards and the UN Charter. “The residents of the PRD, the PRL and other liberated territories have this right, a legal right. And in the current situation it is the right to life,” said the President of the Council of the Russian Federation. Valentina Matvienko.
“For security reasons”, in the first four days of the referendum, the population of the four regions will be invited to vote near their homes, rather than at the polling stations, or they will be driven around the homes of citizens, explains the news agency. Russian state tax.
The Central Electoral Commission of the Kherson region predicts that around 750,000 people will participate in the voting, with half a million people registered as voters in the Zaporizhzhia region. Ballots for the referendum were printed for 1.5 million voters of the self-proclaimed Republic of Donetsk (RPD). 450 polling stations are available in the Republic and more than 200 in Russia for the residents of the Democratic Republic. The Central Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic has opened 461 polling stations in the Republic and 201 in Russia. According to the Zaporozhzhia Region, 394 polling stations have been established in the region and another 102 in Russia. Citizens of the Kherson Region can cast their vote in any of the eight territorial or 198 local electoral commissions, or they can do so in Crimea, Moscow or other Russian cities.
The international community considers the referendum vote “illegitimate”and even China has spoken out against it. The world will recognize neither the vote nor the probable declaration of annexation by the Kremlin, but the possible repercussions on the conflict in Ukraine are frightening.
ANSA agency
UN investigators in Ukraine have documented a wide range of crimes against minors, including cases of children “raped, tortured and illegally confined” (ANSA)
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