DISINFO: The Donbass republics, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining Russia
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: oroszhirek.hu (archived)*
  • Date of publication: October 07, 2022
  • Article language(s): Hungarian
  • Reported in: Issue 312
  • Countries / regions discussed: Russia, Ukraine
Tags:
Donbas Kherson Invasion of Ukraine Manipulated elections/referendum Referendum

DISINFO: The Donbass republics, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining Russia

SUMMARY

In referendums held at the end of September, the two Donbass republics, as well as the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining Russia. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the unification treaties with the former Ukrainian territories, which officially became part of Russia.

RESPONSE

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the invasion of Ukraine and sham referenda on occupied Ukrainian territories aiming at justifying the annexation of Ukrainian territories.

Russia has held illegal referenda on four occupied oblasts of Ukraine (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson) on September 23-26. Russia does not fully control the territories where so-called referendums are taking place.

As stated EU High Representative Josep Borrell:

“The European Union strongly condemns these planned illegal “referenda” which go against the legal and democratically elected Ukrainian authorities, are in violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in blatant breach of international law. The results of such actions will be null and void and would not be recognised by the EU and its Member States. [...]

Therefore, these illegal “votes” cannot be considered under any circumstance as the free expression of the will of the people living in these regions under constant Russian military threat and intimidation".

See also this tweet by HR/VP Borrell stating that the announced annexation of Ukrainian territories by Russia is a major breach of international law and a violation of UN Charter.

These parodies of democracy were also condemned by NATOG7US, as well as Russia’ partners like Serbia and Kazakhstan (a member of CIS and CSTO), which also mentioned that they will not recognise their results.

See also a similar disinformation claims alleging that Kherson residents want to join Russia in a referendum.

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Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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