October 13, 2022
Cited article by Bill Chappell, NPR
HRRC applauds the overwhelming consensus by UN member countries to reject the legality of the Russian annexation of Ukrainian territories. The vote to annex the regions currently occupied by Russian forces was reportedly performed under duress and threat of violence, and thus a violation of international law.
Article Summary
The UN General Assembly voted to reject the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories by Russia. 143 countries voted in favor of Ukraine, with 35 countries abstaining. Only four countries voted alongside Russia in favor of the annexation: Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, and Syria. Many other countries who share close relations with Russia abstained from the vote.
The UN vote determined that the annexation claims by Russia were not legitimate. The areas in question, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, are all areas under Russian military occupation. This act by Russia was a violation of the UN charter and international law, as the annexation was done under threat or use of force.