Japan refuses to recognise Russian election in Crimea: report
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
23.03.2018 12:30
The Japanese embassy in Ukraine has said that Japan supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and does not recognise Russian elections in occupied Crimea, according to a report.
Russia’s long-serving leader Vladimir Putin. Photo: EPA/YURI KADOBNOV
Ukraine’s pravda.com.ua website has quoted the Japanese embassy as saying in a statement that Japan does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014 and that Japan consequently does not recognise the legitimacy and the results of Russia presidential elections in Crimea on March 18.
The embassy also said that Japan “does not accept attempts to change the status quo through the use of force,” the pravda.com.ua website reported.
Poland’s foreign ministry has said that “the presidential elections held in Crimea by the Russian authorities cannot be recognised” because Crimea is part of Ukraine.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 after a referendum that the Ukrainian authorities and the West said was illegal. Earlier, Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms seized strategic facilities on the peninsula from the Ukrainian army and local authorities.
Meanwhile, Russia’s long-serving leader Vladimir Putin extended his presidency by another six years after winning a landslide election victory on Sunday, March 18, the fourth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea.
(gs/pk)
Source: pravda.com.ua, IAR