Mejlis: Holding Russian constitutional referendum in Crimea is crime

01.07.2020 09:51

Ukrinform

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People released a statement in connection with the crime committed by Russia in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol - holding the "nationwide vote on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation."

The text of the statement was published on Facebook page of Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov.

“The Russian Federation holds the "nationwide vote on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation" in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol from June 25 to July 1, 2020. This action is another crime committed by the Russian Federation in violation of basic principles norms of international law," the statement reads.

In addition, the Mejlis believes that illegal vote is a violation of "[Russia’s] international obligations to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of other states, contained in the Charter of the United Nations, the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Final Act), the Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Budapest Memorandum) and in a number of other bilateral and multilateral international treaties."

The authors of the statement believe that "all-Russian vote" in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol falls under the qualification of international crime, the responsibility for the commission of which rests entirely with the Russian Federation."

According to the Mejlis, the Russian occupiers force Crimean residents to participate in the "all-Russian vote."

"The heads and employees of educational and healthcare institutions, employees of public utility companies, and representatives of small and medium-sized businesses are subjected to a particular pressure and moral terror on part of the Russian occupation authorities," the statement reads.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People calls on the UN, the European Union, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, parliaments, and governments to increase international political, diplomatic and economic pressure to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People calls on the Ukrainian authorities to take urgent measures to further consolidate the international community in repelling Russian aggression and to restore the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people expresses its support to all the residents of Crimea, "who, staying under the Russian occupation, preserve their dignity and devotion to their native land, demonstrate resilience and rejection of the Russian occupation."

As reported, the vote on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation began in Russia and the annexed Crimea on June 25. The vote will last until July 1. One of the amendments concerns zeroing out presidential terms and will allow Russian president Vladimir Putin to run in the election twice more and to remain in power until 2036.