Over 50 member countries of the United Nations have condemned the so-called "elections" of the President of the Russian Federation, which Russia is conducting in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
This was reported by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya
The joint statement was signed by 55 countries, as well as the European Union. Among those who condemned the "elections" are EU members, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Georgia, Japan, Moldova, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
"We strongly condemn the illegitimate attempts by the Russian Federation to organize presidential elections in Russia on the temporarily occupied territories of the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. Holding elections on the territory of another UN member state without its consent is a blatant disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such elections are invalid under international law," the statement said.
The countries also called for not recognizing any change by Russia in the status of Crimea, Sevastopol, as well as Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
"We recall the UN General Assembly’s resolution (ESS/11/4) adopted at its Emergency Special Session on October 12, 2022, that declared the Russian Federation’s attempts to hold illegal so-called referendums in September 2022 in parts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine had no validity under international law and do not form the basis for any alteration of the status of those regions of Ukraine. An overwhelming 143 countries voted in support of the resolution and affirmed core principles under international law by condemning these so-called referendums. We also recall General Assembly resolution 68/262 of March 27, 2014, which similarly underscored that Russia’s referendums held on March 16, 2014 in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol had no validity and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of these regions.
We reiterate the UN General Assembly’s calls to all States, international organizations, and United Nations specialized agencies not to recognize any alteration by the Russian Federation of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as of any or all of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, or Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, and to refrain from any action or dealing that might be interpreted as recognizing any such altered status.
We demand the Russian Federation refrain from holding illegitimate elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. We reiterate the General Assembly’s call for the Russian Federation to stop its war of aggression against Ukraine and to immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters," the statement said.
