At UN, Russia says referendums in Ukraine were “transparent”

Vasili Nebenzia, Russian ambassador to the UN, claimed that life in Crimea improved after the Ukrainian peninsula was annexed by Russia in | Photo: EFE/EPA/JUSTIN LANE

Russia said on Tuesday (17) at UN headquarters in New York, that the referendums held in Ukrainian territories with a view to annexation by it were carried out “in a totally transparent manner and in compliance with all international standards”, in the words of the country’s ambassador to the organization, Vasili Nebenzia.

He claimed that about one hundred international observers from more than 20 countries followed the referendum and were “surprised by the enthusiasm of voters”, in addition to having wondered why the press Westerner had not shown this fact.

He recalled that in 2014 the people of Crimea held a similar referendum on annexation to Russia (also marred by allegations of wrongdoing s and without recognition from the majority of the international community), “and its population has lived better since then”.

“We have invested a lot in the region, and we will do the same in Donbass”, he said.

He also criticized the “pressure” that the European Union has allegedly exercised over Italy, Hungary and candidate countries to join the EU – specifically mentioning Serbia – to distance themselves from Russia.

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