New York-Sana
Russia has strongly criticized the statements of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding the referendums on the accession of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions to the Russian Federation, stressing that the latter does not have the right to make political statements on behalf of the whole organization.
The TASS news agency quoted the Russian mission to the United Nations as saying: “The Secretary-General showed the same selective approach that Western countries follow regarding Ukraine, which contradicts the principle of equality and self-determination of peoples,” stressing that his statements against the accession referendums show the extent of double standards.
The mission added: "Guterres' administrative job as Secretary-General does not give him the right to make political statements on behalf of the entire United Nations," noting that "all this behavior unequivocally shows the abuse of authority by the highest official of the United Nations."
The Permanent Mission stated that Guterres previously remained silent, and did not make statements criticizing the practices of the Ukrainian forces in Donbass after 2014, and about the situation in Kosovo, nor did he condemn the occupation of the United States and NATO of part of the Syrian territory.
Referendums to join Russia were held between the 23rd and 27th of this month, with 99.23 percent of Donetsk residents voting in favor of joining Russia, in Lugansk 98.42 percent, in Kherson 87.05 percent, and in Zaporozhye 93.11 percent.
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