{"id":217569,"date":"2022-10-14T19:54:31","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T16:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/?p=217569"},"modified":"2022-10-14T19:55:02","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T16:55:02","slug":"ukraine-in-flames-218","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/ukraine-in-flames-218","title":{"rendered":"Fake referendums undermine the legitimacy of Russian state altogether"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

The so-called \u201creferendums\u201d on joining Russia that the aggressor held in the occupied territories of Ukraine are illegitimate under Ukrainian, international, and even Russian law. Russia does not even control the whole regions it claims to have annexed, making the entire procedure merely a propaganda campaign for the internal audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sham votes make no sense in terms of implementing the principle of international law, the right of nations and peoples to self-determination, as there are no peoples or nations in the occupied areas \u2013 they are simply parts of Ukraine\u2019s regions. Considering the freedom of expression criterion, there is abundant evidence that residents were forced to vote at gunpoint. Overall, the pseudo-referendums violated almost all principles of freedom of expression and freedom of voting, making them void of any legal force whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To bring to justice all those responsible for the illegal \u201creferendums\u201d and attempted annexation, a special tribunal needs to be established, the project of which is already being discussed by the international community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n