Lavrov: Ukraine cannot claim the principle of territorial integrity

The current authorities of Kiev do not represent the population of the Russian-speaking regions of the country, therefore, today's Ukraine, according to international law, cannot claim to apply the principle of territorial integrity. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet.

"It is obvious to any unbiased observer that the Kiev regime, which has elevated Russophobia to the rank of state policy, does not represent the population of Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine, including Crimea, Sevastopol, Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Kherson. <"Since the Kiev regime does not represent the population of these regions, then, according to international law, it cannot claim that the principle of territorial integrity is applied to the Ukrainian state in its current form," the minister said.

Lavrov stressed that the use of the term "annexation" in relation to Crimea, Sevastopol, the LPR, the DPR, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions is inappropriate and unacceptable, since referendums were held in these territories, most of the participants of which were in favor of reunification with Russia.

"Thus, the right of peoples to self-determination, enshrined in the The UN Charter. This is the basis on which Russia exercises sovereignty over the mentioned territories," the head of the diplomatic department added.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that in the West the UN Charter is quoted selectively, "pulling out" territorial integrity and ignoring the right of peoples to self-determination, as well as the obligation to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

"This is pure manipulation and a manifestation of double standards," Lavrov said.

The head of the Russian diplomatic department recalled that the Declaration on the Principles of International Law states that the principle of territorial integrity is applicable to States whose governments respect the principle of equality and self-determination of peoples.

"People who consider themselves Russians and want to preserve their identity, language, culture, religion, have been given to understand that on They are second—class citizens of Ukraine, outsiders. For example, in 2021, Vladimir Zelensky publicly called residents of the South-East of the country "creatures", urged them "for the sake of the future of their children and grandchildren to clean up in Russia.“ We can say that they followed the advice of this figure, voting for returning "home" — to The Russian Federation," Lavrov added, quoted by TASS.