US State Department slams Putin’s ‘false claims’ to Crimea

In a speech in the Crimean city of Sevastopol ahead of Russian presidential elections on Sunday, Putin on Wednesday thanked residents for voting to become part of Russia.

The US State Department said in a statement: “Four years ago this week, Russia held an illegitimate, fabricated ‘referendum’ in Ukraine in a futile attempt to legitimize its purported annexation of Ukrainian territory.”

'Sham' vote

The State Department said that Crimean residents were “compelled to vote under scrutiny by heavily armed Russian troops. Russia’s claim that Ukrainians made a free choice in that sham ‘referendum’ has always lacked credibility.”

In his campaign rally in Crimea on Wednesday, Putin “reiterated Russia’s false claims to Ukrainian territory in another open admission that the Russian government disdains the international order and disrespects the territorial integrity of sovereign nations,” added the statement, which was prefaced by the headline “Crimea Is Ukraine.”

‘Tremendous human costs’

The State Department criticised the “tremendous human costs” the Russian government has imposed on the people of Crimea.

“Over the past four years, Russia has engaged in a campaign of coercion and violence, targeting anyone opposed to its attempted annexation,” the statement said.

“Russian occupation authorities have subjected Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians, pro-Ukrainian activists, civil society members, and independent journalists to politically motivated prosecution and ongoing repression, while methodically suppressing nongovernmental organizations and independent media outlets.”

The statement added: “Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine.”

(pk/gs)

Source: US State Department