Statement by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Non-Recognition of Legitimacy of Election to State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of VII convocation, Its Results and Legal Consequences, Composition, Authorities, Acts and Decisions of the State Duma of VII convocation

 Taking into consideration the fact of conducting illegal election to the State Duma in temporarily occupied territories of the Russia-annexed Crimea and the city of Sevastopol on September 18, 2016, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine states:

Ukraine is a sovereign and independent, democratic, social and legal state, whose territory is integral and inviolable within its internationally recognized borders.

In compliance with major principles of the international law, as well as with those of the United Nations, in particular, Article 2 of the UN Charter I: All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

Chapters I, III and IV of the Helsinki Final Act also oblige its member states to respect sovereign equality and the rights inherent in sovereignty; inviolability of frontiers; and territorial integrity of states.

Pursuant to the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, the Russian Federation assumed an obligation to respect independence and sovereignty and existing borders of Ukraine in compliance with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

In its March 27, 2014 Resolution on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the United Nations General Assembly confirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. It also called on all states and international organizations not to recognize any change in the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and to refrain from any actions or steps that could be considered as altering of such status.

Therefore, taking into consideration the illegal election in the temporarily occupied territories of the Russia-annexed Crimea and the city of Sevastopol on September 18, 2016, election to the State Duma of VII convocation violates the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine, major principles and terms of the international law, Charter of the United Nations, Helsinki Final Act, Budapest Memorandum of 1994, Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on territorial integrity of Ukraine No. 68/262 of March 27, 2014 and other international legal acts.

Besides, it stands to mention that the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation consists of 450 members elected under combined election system. In the occupied territory, Russia elected 225 MPs on its federal district and 4 MPs on single mandate constituencies, which makes 229 parliamentary members, which in turn is the majority of the constitutional composition of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. It means that all these MPs are elected in an illegitimate way and that results of the election are null and void.

Thus, in compliance with the major principle of the law - Jus ex injuria non oritur, which stands for 'law does not arise from injustice', the election to the State Duma of VII convocation, its results and legal consequences, and respectively, the composition, authorities, acts and decisions of the State Duma of VII convocation are illegitimate, which in turn entails the illegitimacy of the whole Lower Chamber of the Russian Parliament.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:

- admits that holding of the election to the State Duma of VII convocation violates the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine, major principles and terms of the international law, Charter of the United Nations, Helsinki Final Act, Budapest Memorandum of 1994, Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on territorial integrity of Ukraine No. 68/262 of March 27, 2014 and other international legal acts.

- does not recognize lawful the election to the State Duma of VII convocation its results and legal consequences, and respectively, the composition, authorities, acts and decisions of the State Duma of VII convocation;

- addresses the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, parliaments of foreign states, parliamentary assemblies and international organizations with a request not to recognize legitimacy of the election to the State Duma of VII convocation, its results and legal consequences, and respectively, the composition, authorities, acts and decisions of the State Duma of VII convocation;

A total of 264 members of the Ukrainian Parliament supported respective Resolution on the Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine No. 5135.


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