Виголошена Постійним представником України при міжнародних організаціях у Відні Ігорем Прокопчуком на 1157-му засіданні Постійної ради ОБСЄ 28 вересня 2017 року

Mr. Chairperson,

 On 10 September, the Russian occupation authorities conducted illegal elections in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol (Ukraine) in yet another flagrant breach of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ukraine strongly condemns these so-called elections and considers them to be null and void, illegitimate and bearing no legal consequences.

The persons who were involved in preparation and conduct of illegal elections on the sovereign territory of Ukraine shall be liable to criminal prosecution in accordance with the national legislation of Ukraine.

Ukraine calls upon the OSCE participating States to be strictly guided by UN General Assembly resolutions 68/262 and 71/205, not to recognize these so-called elections in the city of Sevastopol and to refrain from any action or dealing that might be interpreted as recognizing them, such as maintaining contacts with the representatives of the Russian occupation authorities, both bilaterally and within multilateral forums.

We once again urge the Russian Federation to return to the tenets of international law and reverse its illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol which are part of Ukraine’s sovereign territory within internationally recognized borders.

 Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.