Russia believes occupied territories of Ukraine are de facto part of Russia's territory, they want sham referendum as soon as possible

IRYNA BALACHUK — TUESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2022, 13:49

Russia argues that the "DPR" [self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic] and the "LPR" [self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic] should merge with Russia without delay and  must be stipulated in the Constitution. This would enable the Russian Federation to use all its forces in Donbas in the event of an encroachment on the [newly occupied] Russian territory.

Source: Russian state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti, referring to Leonid Slutsky, the leader of the LDPR Party faction; Andrey Turchak, Secretary of the General Council of the Edinaya Rossiya [United Russia] Party, and Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation

Quote from Slutsky: "The People's Chambers of the ‘DPR’ [self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic] and the ‘LPR’ [self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic] turned to us. Those who live in these long-suffering territories, those who have been taking fire for 8 years with the inscriptions ‘to the children of Donbas’ have already decided on their position, which should become a reality in the near future. These territories should become part of Russia."

Details: He believes that "the merger of the ‘DPR’ and the ‘LPR’ with Russia should not be delayed."

Andrey Turchak, the secretary of the General Council of the Edinaya Rossiya party, believes that "a referendum has been needed for a long time and it will definitely take place."

He says that the de facto occupied territories of Ukraine are already part of Russia, and "a fair and open vote will de jure establish the results of the referendum once and for all."

Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, is sure that pseudo-referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine will enable Russia to use all its forces in Donbas in the event of an encroachment on Russia’s territory.

Medvedev says that the possible "acceptance of Donbas region into Russia and its registration through the amendment of the Constitution" will lead to the fact that "no future leader of Russia, no official will be able to cancel these decisions."

Background: 

• On 19 September, the so-called Public Chambers of "LPR" and "DPR" (self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic, respectively) demanded an immediate launch of illegal referendums on their recognition as federal entities (subjects) of the Russian Federation. 
• Following the Russian-sponsored militants in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, Russian invaders in Kherson Oblast have called for an urgent "referendum" to legitimise the merging of this territory with the Russian Federation.
• Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, is convinced it’s necessary to hold the sham referendums in the occupied parts of Donbas region and annex them to Russia, as this will allow the invaders to talk about an attack on the Russian Federation if  hostilities continue.

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