The United States reiterates that Russia’s referendum in eastern Ukraine is “a farce”

Amnesty International describes the referendum as “a trick” of the Kremlin

Sep. 24 () –

The US president, Joe Biden, has reiterated this Friday that the United States will “never” recognize the Ukrainian territory as “anything else” that is not part of Ukraine, at the same time that he has described the Russian referendums in the eastern regions as ” a farce.”

“The United States will never recognize Ukrainian territory as anything other than part of Ukraine. Russia’s referendums are a sham, a false pretext for trying to annex parts of Ukraine by force, in flagrant violation of International Law, including the Charter of United Nations,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

The US president has detailed that he will work with his allies and partners to impose “rapid and severe additional economic costs” on Russia. He has also announced that he will provide security assistance to Ukraine so that it can defend itself while “courageously” resisting Russia’s invasion.

“The United States joins our partners around the world — and all nations that respect the basic principles of the UN Charter — in rejecting any fabricated outcome announced by Russia,” added the White House tenant.

AMNESTY CONSIDERS THE REFERENDUM AS “A TREAT”

The NGO Amnesty International has argued that the referendums to vote in the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions on annexation to Russia are “a ruse” for the Kremlin to illegally annex the occupied Ukrainian territory.

“(Annexation) would mean a new escalation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and further proof of the Kremlin’s profound disregard for international law and the rights of people in the territories under its occupation,” the organization said in a statement. a missive.

According to the NGO, the Fourth Geneva Convention expressly prohibits the annexation of occupied territories and other acts by the occupying power to deprive the occupied population of the protection of the Convention”. Amnesty has also warned Russia that the result of the referendums shall not be valid under international law.

“Russia must respect its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law and immediately cease all illegal actions. It must also immediately end its aggression against Ukraine. All those responsible for crimes under international law, including war crimes, must face justice,” the organization said.

During the day this Friday, voting began in the referendums called in the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk and in the Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia, occupied by Russian forces in the framework of the invasion unleashed on February 24.