We, the undersigned, declare the following:
On 23-27 September 2022, the Russian Federation held “referendums on the accession to the Russian Federation” in the occupied areas of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.
In this context, we urge the Council of Europe, its Parliamentary Assembly and its member States to decisively condemn these illegal referendums and not to recognise any consequences thereof. Following the unlawful use of force, the referendums are nothing else but yet another blatant violation of the UN Charter, of every legal and democratic principle making up the European security architecture.
Announcement and conduct of these referendums are an escalation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine launched on 20 February 2014, which transformed into a full-scale invasion since 24 February 2022. Such a brazen attack on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, member State of the United Nations and of the Council of Europe, shall be met with strong reaction of the international community.
Therefore, we call on the Council of Europe member States to step up sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, enhance and accelerate supplies of military equipment to Ukraine and consider all other options available to make the Russian Federation comply with its international legal obligations and stop its aggression.