MOSCOW Four Ukrainian territories Controlled in whole or in part by Russian forces, voting on referenda to decide on the annexation of the Russian Federation began this Friday, the 23rd Russia, informed the local authorities. The trial, which will take place in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, is expected to last until September 27.
the residents of Donetsk and luhansk asked if they “support their republic’s accession to Russia as a federal matter”. Already the residents of Zaporizhia and Kherson must decide whether “they favor the separation of the Ukrainian region, the creation of an independent state and subsequent accession to Russia as a federal matter.”
According to the proRussian authorities, during the first four days of the election, citizens must vote in their homes and at specially designated locations for security reasons. Possible polling stations are only admitted on the last day. The same procedure applies in all areas where consultations take place.
In practice, if the population agrees to the annexation, Moscow would consider the four regions as part of its own territory., making Ukrainian aggression on these areas an attack on the Russian nation. This possibility worries the West, especially after the Russian President Wladimir Putinhave threatened to use nuclear weapons against any attack on their country’s territory.
THE Ukraine and its international allies dispute the legitimacy of these Kremlinorchestrated referendums, claiming the process is a sham. The Ukrainians also accuse the Russian security forces of manipulating electoral rolls in the occupied territories and of having followed and kidnapped loyal citizens Kyiv.
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In this week, UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres, condemned the referendums and stressed that “any annexation of territory by force constitutes a violation of international law”. Also in a speech before the UN US President Joe Bidencalled the referendums “wrong” and accused Russia of wanting to “end Ukraine’s right to exist as a state”. /EFE, AP and Tass