In the BA statement, the international community is invited not to recognize the results of the referendums illegally organized by the Russian Federation in the occupied territories of Ukraine and the Russian passports issued there.
"We, the members of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly, appalled by the recent outrageous and inhuman activities of the Russian Federation firmly condemn the plans to hold illegal referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine, violations of the international humanitarian law concerning the prisoners of war; and violent oppression of the Russian protesters unwilling to participate in the Kremlin’s unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine," the BA said.
The BA statement comes just one day after Latvia's Saeima on September 22 adopted a statement voicing clear opposition to Russia's plan to hold supposed referedums in occupied Ukraine.
“Neither Latvia, nor any other democratic state will ever recognise these fraudulent referendums, or any results thereof, as legitimate. This is how Russia aims to secure its territorial gains in Ukraine and legitimise them, but it is impossible to achieve it with such means,” said Rihards Kols, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima.
Kols underlined that the referendums organised by Russia are manifestly contrary to the United Nations (UN) Charter and the Constitution of Ukraine and that they would have no legal validity.
The Saeima @Jekaba11 of Latvia adopted a statement on the non-recognition of the referendums organised by Russia in the currently occupied territories of Ukraine, noting that a referendum held under military occupation is illegitimate and any results thereof are not recognised. pic.twitter.com/52YHu2KpqQ
— Rihards Kols (@RihardsKols) September 22, 2022
In the Saeima statement, the Saeima calls on the Euro-Atlantic community and its partners to urgently strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation in order to weaken the Russian military’s capacity to continue military aggression in Ukraine and to increase military, financial, humanitarian, and diplomatic support for Ukraine.
In addition, the statement calls on the Euro-Atlantic community to unanimously support initiatives that condemn Russia’s military activity in Ukraine and call for those responsible to be held accountable; continue isolating Russia from international and regional organisations; and make comparable decisions and establish comparable sanctions targeting Belarus as a supporter of the military aggression of Russia.
