DISINFO: The results of Ukraine’s referendums return historical Russian lands to Russia
SUMMARY
The results of the referendums organised in the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples republics, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions allow us to speak about the return of historical Russian lands. Their populations, which were not scared to make the choice, are even more important than the lands. This development was inevitable given that, among other things, Ukraine was planning to withdraw from the Budapest memorandum which proclaimed Ukraine’s non-nuclear status.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the invasion of Ukraine which aims to manipulate public opinion about the annexation of Ukrainian territories. It also tries to shift the blame for the start of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine to the Ukrainian authorities.
The occupying administration of the territories in Donbas, and Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts claimed that these regions will join the Russian Federation and that the decision will be taken by referenda organised by the occupying administration. In these so called "referenda", voters were coerced into voting with armed soldiers going door to door to collect votes. Individuals were not allowed to vote, as there is only one vote allowed per household. Voters did not need any form of identification in order to cast a vote.
Such referenda are considered illegitimate by Ukrainian and international law. Article 4 of the UN Charter reads:
"All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Russia annexation plans saying, “The Charter is clear. Any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Principles of the UN Charter and international law… Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned”.
The EU High Representative Josep Borrell condemned the decision to hold referendums, stating that the EU won't recognise it. “These illegal ‘votes’ cannot be considered under any circumstance as the free expression of the will of the people living in these regions under constant Russian military threat and intimidation,” EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said in a statement. In 2014, the EU established sanctions against Russia condemning the Kremlin's decision to stage an illegal referendum on the occupied peninsula.
Ukraine has been a nuclear-weapon-free country since 1994 when the Budapest memorandum was signed. The leaders of the US, Russia and the UK signed the Budapest memorandum with guarantees on the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Through the Budapest memorandum, Russia pledged not to use any weapon against Ukraine, not just nuclear.
Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, support of separatists in eastern Ukraine and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by Russia are a clear violation of the Budapest memorandum.
Read similar cases claiming that Crimea joined Russia after the bloody US-coup in Ukraine, that Crimea joined Russia in a 2014 referendum, and that Kherson residents want to join Russia, not Ukraine.