DISINFO: Pro-Russian referendums in Ukraine are valid with no violations
SUMMARY
The referendums in DPR, LPR, Kherson Oblast and in Zaporizhzhya have been declared valid. Many international observers did not notice any violations. An enormous majority of people voted to join the Russian Federation. This result had been expected. Thanks to Ukraine’s authorities, people wanted to leave that country and become citizens of a vast state which can take responsibility for them.
RESPONSE
This is a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on Russia’s war aggression against Ukraine in order to justify the annexation of Ukrainian territories.
In reality, neither the United Nations nor the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe nor any other respected international organisation sent its observers to these illegal referendums. They were held in four occupied oblasts of Ukraine (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson) on 23-26 of September.
Self-styled observers who were present at these sham referendums acted illegally because they had no permission from Ukrainian authorities. Moreover, these results cannot be recognised as valid because the voting took place in the presence of Russian troops. Voting at gunpoint can hardly be free and honest. Russia does not fully control any of the four territories, so those who voted did not express the will of the entire population.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell said on 21 September 2022, before the illegal referendums were held:
“The European Union strongly condemns these planned illegal ‘referenda’ which go against the legal and democratically elected Ukrainian authorities, are in violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in blatant breach of international law. The results of such actions will be null and void and would not be recognised by the EU and its Member States.
Since the start of the invasion Russia has intimidated, illegally detained, tortured and abducted Ukrainian citizens and a significant part of the original population in the invaded areas has been forced to flee. Legally elected local officials have, in some cases, been forcibly replaced. Access to the internet, free and independent media and freedom of expression have also been greatly restricted.
Therefore, 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."
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that Kherson residents want to join Russia, not Ukraine, that newly liberated Ukrainian regions are returning to Russia, that Crimea democratically voted for reunification with Russia in a referendum, or that this referendum solved the Crimean issue once and for all.