Fake referendums about incorporation into the Russian Federation planned by the self-appointed "authorities" of Luhansk and Donetsk "People's Republics" will have no validity nor legal consequences. These attempts are a blatant violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966 and protocol 1 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950, said the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and the ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova.
"Any fake referendums about incorporating certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions into the Russian Federation will not be recognized by Ukraine or the world. Russian attempts to raise the stakes and undermine the sovereignty of Ukraine will have no success," wrote Yermak on his Telegram channel on March 27. He stressed that "the issues of territorial integrity and sovereignty are critical for Ukraine."
The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada, Lyudmyla Denisova, also commented on the intention of the occupying powers in Luhansk to organize a "referendum" about incorporation into Russia.
"The terrorist authorities of the "Luhansk People's republic" understand that Ukrainian Armed Forces are reinforcing their positions; they are afraid that Luhansk will be liberated. So, they are trying to hastily organize a referendum about joining Russia. After the "referendum," the occupying country can cynically call the Ukrainian advance towards Donbas "the invasion of Russia," she warned.
Denisova stressed that the territories of the temporarily occupied Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions must return under Ukrainian jurisdiction. Fake referendums have no legal value or consequences.
She appealed to the international community to intensify pressure on the aggressor Russia through sanctions and use all available means to stop Russian aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.