Ukraine accuses Russia of fake referendum plot | Inquirer News

Ukraine accuses Russia of fake referendum plot

/ 11:24 AM March 13, 2022

Ukraine accuses Russia of fake referendum plot

A view of the near deserted streets of Mykolaiv, a city on the shores of the Black Sea that has been under Russian attack for days on March 11, 2022. AFP

KYIV — Ukrainian officials on Saturday accused Russia of planning a fake referendum on creating a pro-Moscow “people’s republic” in the southern Black Sea city of Kherson.

Russian forces seized the port city, which has a population of 290,000 people, on March 3 following a three-day siege. It was the first major city to fall following Moscow’s invasion.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Russians now desperately try to organize a sham ‘referendum’ for a fake ‘people’s republic’ in Kherson,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

FEATURED STORIES

Due to “zero popular support”, such a referendum “will be fully staged”, he added.

“Severe sanctions against Russia must follow if they proceed. Kherson is & will always be Ukraine,” the minister added.

Article continues after this advertisement

Kuleba drew a parallel with Russia’s annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014, when it held a referendum on joining Russia after deploying troops there.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Kherson plan was following a “2014 playbook”, Kuleba said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Ukraine’s ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova wrote on Telegram that Russian occupying forces were phoning lawmakers from the local legislature, asking them to vote for the plan.

Denisova said such a referendum would be illegal on the occupied territory, since under Ukrainian law any issues over territory can only be resolved by a nationwide referendum.

Article continues after this advertisement

RELATED STORIES

US authorizes $200 million in additional military aid to Ukraine

Russia’s war in Ukraine: Latest developments

Alarm grows over Mariupol as Russia squeezes Kyiv

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Ukraine war: Two weeks that changed the world

TAGS: Conflict, Politics, Russia

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.