Georgia, Baltic states deem ‘elections’ in Russia-occupied Crimea illegal – UNIAN

REUTERS

The foreign ministries of Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia deem the so-called “local elections” in Russia-occupied Crimea illegal.

In particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has emphasized it does not recognize the illegal local elections organized by the Russian Federation on September 8, 2019, in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which “represents a gross violation of the fundamental norms and principles of international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

“The Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol are integral parts of Ukraine. Georgia reaffirms its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders,” the ministry said in a statement on September 8.

The foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia also stressed non-recognition by their states of the “voting” in Russia-occupied Crimea.

“Lithuania does not recognize today’s ‘elections’ in Crimea & Sevastopol illegally annexed by Russia,” Linas Linkevicius of Lithuania said on Twitter on September 8. “We reaffirm unwavering support to Ukraine’s sovereignty & territorial integrity, condemn Russia’s occupation of Crimea & continuous breach of international law.”

Edgars Rinkevics of Latvia, in turn, tweeted: “Latvia does not recognise local elections held today in Crimea and Sevastopol illegally occupied and annexed by Russia, I reaffirm our continuous support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Crimea is Ukraine. Sevastopol is Ukraine.”

“Estonia does not recognise today’s elections held in Crimea and Sevastopol, illegally annexed by Russia. I reaffirm our strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said on Twitter.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called on international partners to give a principled assessment of the illegal actions by the Russian Federation, which organized and held the so-called “local elections” to illegal institutions created by the Russian occupying administration in Ukraine’s Crimea and Sevastopol.

“Results of this illegal voting are null and void, they will have no legal consequences whatsoever. Neither Ukraine nor the international community will recognize them. All those responsible for organization and conduct of the illegal voting in the temporarily occupied Crimea will be held accountable according to the Ukrainian legislation,” it said.

*** On September 8, there was a single voting day in Russia, where more than 5,000 polls were held at various levels.