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Pro-Russian Territories in Ukraine Make ‘Free Choice’ to Join Russia in ‘Sham’ Referenda

The Ukrainian foreign ministry called the referenda a “propaganda show” and “null and worthless.”

September 29, 2022
Pro-Russian Territories in Ukraine Make ‘Free Choice’ to Join Russia in ‘Sham’ Referenda
People voting in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
IMAGE SOURCE: KOMMERSANT

People in Ukraine’s Russia-controlled regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia voted by an “overwhelming majority” to join Russia in referenda conducted from 23-27 September that have been firmly condemned as a “sham” by the West.

Calling it a “long and hard way home,” Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin stated, “We have been fighting for the right to join Russia, to come back home, to be with our real Motherland for more than 3,000 days,” adding that the results were not a “surprise to us.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that over 99.23% in Donetsk, 98.42% in Luhansk, 93.11% in Zaporizhzhia, and 87.05% in Kherson “made a conscious and free choice in favour of Russia,” rejecting the “inhumane policy” of the Ukrainian government. It also said that the referenda were conducted “in full conformity with the standards and principles of international law,” with 133 observers from different countries, including Italy, Germany, Venezuela, and Latvia.

However, many residents who left the Russia-occupied territories reportedly said nobody willingly voted in the plebiscites and that Russian authorities were taking the ballot boxes to people’s houses and forcing them to vote at gunpoint. Keeping this in mind, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the referenda a “propaganda show,” saying they are “null and worthless.”

“Forcing people in these territories to fill out some papers at the barrel of a gun is yet another Russian crime in the course of its aggression against Ukraine,” it noted, calling on its partners “to make it clear to Russia that the only response to its attempts of annexation, blackmail, and ultimatums will be the increase of support for Ukraine so that it prevails over the aggressor.”

Likewise, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared, “Ukraine cannot and will not put up with any attempts by Russia to seize any part of our land.” He also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, United Kingdom (UK) PM Liz Truss, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and European Council President Charles Michel for their “clear and unequivocal support.” 

Additionally, in an address to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Zelensky confirmed, “Russia’s recognition of these sham referenda as allegedly normal, implementation of the so-called “Crimean scenario,” and another attempt to annex the territory of Ukraine will mean that there is nothing to talk about with this President of Russia,” referring to Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, the United States (US) denounced the referenda as “illegitimate and outrageous,” with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asserting, “Regardless of Russia’s claims, this remains Ukrainian territory, and Ukraine has every right to continue to fight for their full sovereignty.” She also stated that Washington will work with its allies to “impose additional economic costs on Russia and individuals and entities inside and outside of Russia” that support this action.

In a similar vein, PM Trudeau announced: “In response to this further escalation, we intend to impose new sanctions against persons and entities that are complicit in this latest attempt to undermine the principles of state sovereignty, and that share responsibility for the ongoing senseless bloodshed across Ukraine.”

Separately, the US also announced $1.1 billion in additional military support for Ukraine’s long-term security investment, including 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and supplementary ammunition. “We’ve all seen how Ukraine has leveraged this system to push back against Russia’s war of aggression, disrupting ammunition depots, supply lines, and logistical hubs far behind the frontlines,” a senior US official said.

Luhansk leader Rodion Miroshnik claimed that the accession “should happen within a week.” Similarly, the C​hairman of the Federation Council committee on constitutional legislation, Andrey Klishas, told Russian state-owned media RIA Novosti: “If the State Duma considers the relevant laws, the Federation Council can include it in the agenda of the meeting on 4 October and consider it,” with plenary sessions being held on 3 and 4 October. In contrast, Crimean Senator Olga Kovitidi said the integration process may take up to five to ten years, noting, “But many areas will be resolved faster, first of all, those related to social support and social security.”