UK and others condemn Russia's failure to uphold OSCE commitments: joint statement to the OSCE
UK and others condemn Russia's failure to hold free and fair elections as well as breaches of Ukrainian sovereignty in conducting sham elections on Ukrainian territory.
Thank you, Chair. I am making this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom.
The recent Duma elections were held against a backdrop of severe political repression. As I have said before in this Council, Russia has closed down domestic opposition, squeezed out independent civil society and silenced the independent media. And the elections fell short of OSCE commitments to hold free and fair elections.
Russia did not invite ODIHR to observe the elections. We agree with ODIHR’s assessment that this “further demonstrates a pattern of disregard” for our shared commitments as OSCE participating States.
To recall these facts in this Council is not interference in Russia’s internal affairs. Participating States reaffirmed in Astana that “the commitments undertaken in the human dimension are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned”.
Mr Chair.
Repression inside Russia has enabled external aggression and seriously undermines regional security. We remain deeply concerned by Russian political integration and steps towards full annexation of Georgia’s occupied territories. This includes the recent so-called “presidential elections” in South Ossetia which we condemn as illegitimate. In addition, we support Moldova’s measured approach to peaceful reintegration of Transnistria and condemn Russian attempts to instrumentalise the region.
We reiterate that holding Russia’s State Duma elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, and the UN Charter. These regions are part of Ukraine and holding sham elections cannot alter the status of these territories under international law.
Mr Chair. We - again - call on Russia to end aggression beyond its borders and repression within its borders. We will continue to hold Russia to account in this Council for implementation of OSCE commitments and for the consequences of its actions for our shared regional security.
Thank you.