Bogus referendum ended: Russia reports high support for annexation

Sham referendums in four Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine have ended. Russian agencies are disseminating figures that, according to the first partial counts, indicate a very high level of approval for annexation to Russia.

In four Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, the so-called referendums on annexation to Russia have come to an end. A short time later, Russian news agencies said that after counting up to 20 percent of the votes, 97 to 98 percent of voters had voted yes. According to Russian information, participation was high.

The five-day “referendums” in the Donbass regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as in Kherson and Zaporizhia apparently went well anything but free and fair. There have been a number of reports that the voting took place under threats of violence and intimidation. Representatives of the occupation authorities had gone door to door collecting votes. According to observers, they were often accompanied by Russian armed forces.

According to pro-Russian politicians in the regions concerned, the results of the “referendums” could be published as early as Tuesday evening or in the following days. After that, the deputies in Moscow must formally vote for the annexation by Russia. The resolutions are then to be submitted to the Russian head of state, Vladimir Putin, for signature.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that after the votes “the situation will change radically from a legal point of view, from the point of view of international law, with all the associated consequences for protecting these areas and ensuring their security.”

London: Annexation already on Friday?

The British Ministry of Defense is not ruling out that Russian President Putin could formally announce the acceptance of the occupied Ukrainian territories into the Russian Federation on Friday. A speech by Putin to both chambers of parliament is scheduled for that day. There is a “realistic possibility” that Putin will use the speech to officially announce the admission, according to the ministry’s daily situation report, which is based on findings from British military intelligence.

G7: Will never recognize “referendums”.

A possible annexation of the four Ukrainian regions to Russia as a result of the “referendums” is condemned by the West as contrary to international law. A further military escalation is also feared, because from now on Ukrainian attacks on these regions could be interpreted by Russia as an attack on its national territory. The group of seven leading industrialized countries (G7) has already announced that it will “never” recognize the outcome of the so-called referendums. The US announced a “rapid and serious” response in the form of further economic sanctions against Russia. Even China called on the matter to respect “the territorial integrity of all countries” without, however, condemning the “referendums”.

EU wants to impose sanctions on those responsible

The European Union said it wanted to impose sanctions on those responsible for the so-called referendums in the Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. The spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Peter Stano, said in Brussels that “there will be consequences for everyone involved in organizing these illegal referenda”. According to diplomats, those responsible for the “referendums” on the annexation of four Ukrainian regions to Russia are to be included on the EU’s sanctions list. They are threatened with entry bans, and their assets in Europe will be frozen. The sanctions list already includes more than 1,200 responsible persons in Russia and Belarus.

Stano emphasized that the member states have the last word on sanctions. An official proposal from the EU Commission for the tightening of sanctions is expected on Wednesday. Unanimity among the member states is required for a decision. Among other things, a price cap for Russian oil and an import ban for Russian diamonds are under discussion.