The Foreign Ministry reiterates its firm recommendation to the Romanian citizens to leave the territory of the Russian Federation a.s.a.p.
Russia is getting ready to annex the four regions in southern Ukraine – Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Lugansk and Donetsk – where fake referendums have been recently staged and whose residents have allegedly voted with an overwhelming majority in favour of being annexed by the Russian Federation.
Russia, which has again resorted to its old rhetoric to justify its invasion of Ukraine, says that the inhabitants of these regions had no alternative as Kiyv would allegedly start reprisals against the Russian-speakers in those territories. „Welcome home, to Russia!” the former Russian president and incumbent vice-president of the country’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev has said.
Kyiv and almost the entire international community have denounced the so-called referendums as film footages prove that the Russian army has been deployed to the regions to intimidate and influence the voting.
Officials in Moscow have said that after these regions, which account for 15% of Ukraine’s territory, have been annexed, Russia could use even nuclear weapons to defend them; a Pandora box, which once opened would be very difficult, if not impossible to close! Romania has again firmly condemned the illegal and illegitimate referendums held over September 23 and 27 saying it doesn’t recognize their results.
The Foreign Ministry in Romania says that these simulated referendums are a blatant violation of international law and in consequence they do not produce any kind of legal effect. The Romanian ministry also says that by staging the aforementioned referendums, Russia proves once again that it violates the fundamental principles of international law acting against the responsibilities it has a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Bucharest has reiterated its firm support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and makes an appeal to all countries to reject Russia’s attempts to illegally annex the territories of another state or any type of similar actions.
Concurrently, against the background of the latest developments in Russia, including the partial mobilization announced by president Putin, Romania’s Foreign Ministry has insistently reiterated its recommendation to Romanians to avoid any unessential trips to Russia, advising those who are still there to consider leaving the country as soon as possible.
The ministry has also recommended the Romanian citizens in Russia to be vigilant and avoid crowded places, such as protest rallies and other events involving mass gatherings.
In the meantime, the war Russia is waging on Ukraine seems to have entered a new stage, a more dangerous one, if we take into account the latest explosions at the natural gas pipelines Nord Stream in the Baltic Sea, which the Europeans have described as ‘deliberate’.
Roxana Vasile, Radio Romania International
