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Deputy speaker: Belarus backstabbed Ukraine

"We call on Belarus to respect the right of Ukraine to defend own independence."

The first vice-speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Herashchenko condemned the position of Belarus on UN resolution on Crimea as "betrayal".

When speaking in parliament on 16 November, Herashchenko noted that the 23 countries that voted against the resolution were mostly the countries that are very sensitive about any discussion of human rights, as well as "open Kremlin satellites".

She said three votes were especially unpleasant for Ukraine: by Armenia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

"We respect the right of Armenia and Kazakhstan to enjoy special relationship with the Russian Federation, we understand that. However, Armenia and Kazakhstan, who are friendly to us, should realize that Ukraine and the Ukrainian people are fighting not only for our independence. We defend the right of all post-Soviet countries have independent foreign policies," vice speaker said.

"As for the stance of Belarus, we regard it as a knife in the back. We are grateful to the Belarusian side for an independent platform in Minsk [where the Trilateral contact group meets], we appreciate that. But an independent platform shall be independent in all respects, and not biased," Herashchenko stressed.

"We urge Belarus to respect the right of Ukraine to defend our independence and sovereignty and realize that Minsk can be the next, if Kyiv fails protect its independence,"-she warned.

Recall that on 16 November for the first time in official documents of the United Nations Crimea and Sevastopol were called occupied territories. This wording is enshrined in the resolution "The human rights situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol (Ukraine)", initiated by Ukraine.

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