“Have no legal consequences”: Poland condemned Russia’s elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine

“Have no legal consequences”: Poland condemned Russia’s elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine

Poland stated that it does not recognize the elections conducted by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country called such voting illegal and in violation of international law.

In the official statement, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions are listed, as well as Crimea and Sevastopol.

Poland’s foreign policy office stressed that the results of these elections have no legal consequences and cannot be used to legitimize attempts to annex the occupied territories.

Poland also condemned the holding of the vote in Transnistria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia without the consent of the authorities of Moldova and Georgia. The MFA described such actions as illegal and not compliant with international law and democratic standards.

In the statement, there is also a reminder of the UN General Assembly resolution from 12 October 2022 of 143, in which ⟦KEEP_D⟧ states condemned Russia’s pseudo-referenda and the attempt to illegally annex Ukrainian territories.

Poland urged Russia to respect international law, to stop illegal actions, and to withdraw its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine.