DISINFO: The referendum in Donbass corrected a historical injustice
SUMMARY
Residents of the Donbass republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, looked forward to the opportunity to participate in the referendums on joining Russia. People have long been reluctant to associate themselves with Ukraine.
The referendums on joining Russia were held from 23 to 27 September. The authorities of these regions and territories addressed Vladimir Putin with a request to give the people an opportunity to become part of their native Russia if such decision is made through a plebiscite. The majority of the residents of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics of Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts voted in the referendums in support for the regions' accession to Russia as subjects of the federation.
RESPONSE
This is part of a wider disinformation campaign aiming to justify Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory after the sham referendums held in occupied Ukrainian territories. By blaming the West for not taking into consideration the referenda results, the Kremlin tries to deflect Russia’s responsibility for its flagrant breach of international law. Furthermore, Putin aims to create public pressure in EU and NATO members to prompt Ukraine in accepting the results of the so-called referendums.
The referendums held in the occupied territories are considered illegitimate by international and Ukrainian law. Article 4 of the UN Charter states that:
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.
There are numerous examples of citizens being coerced into voting. According to the remaining local Ukrainian authorities in Zaporizhzhia, the Russian army noticed an “overwhelming reluctance and fear of citizens to attend the referendum and is forced to bring people.”
Previously, the EU High Representative Josep Borrell denounced the illegal referendums and their falsified results, stating that the EU won't recognize any of it. In addition, EU Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano said that the EU’s wish is to bring to justice those responsible for holding sham referenda within the occupied areas.
Read similar cases claiming that Inhabitants of Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts want freely join with Russia and The "referenda" in eastern Ukraine done with the same legal norms as in France or Crimea joined Russia in a 2014 referendum.