Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the accession to Russia of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions and the so-called LPR and DPR. The annexation was preceded by a four-day "referendum" held by the Russian authorities.
At the same time, the law on the procedure for admitting a new subject to the Russian Federation states that two referendums should be held – one of them is held in a foreign state. Elena Lukyanova, lawyer in constitutional law, spoke about this in an interview with The Insider.
“Crimea was an autonomous republic, and this is a slightly different status. They had a constitution and powers. This is also doubtful, but at least one could talk about the fact that they recognized themselves as independent. The law on the procedure for admission to the Russian Federation and the formation of a new subject in its composition says in black and white that if we annex a part of a foreign state, then we hold two referendums – in Russia and in a foreign state (a referendum on independence). It's like with Sevastopol, which was [annexed] in violation, because it was not part of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Lukyanova noted that the Russian authorities did not follow the procedure of joining a part of a foreign state, but the procedure of joining an independent state.
“There was no necessary procedure, they could not follow it. They went, as with the Crimea. Even if the “DPR” and “LPR”, which have long declared themselves independent, are one story, then with the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, everything is completely crooked and askew there. This is a fake on a fake and fake drives.
According to the lawyer, from the point of view of international law, this is pure annexation. According to the constitution of Ukraine, changing the status of its territories is possible only with a referendum.
The signing was also preceded by the recognition by the Russian authorities of the "independence" of the Kherson region, although the occupying authorities did not proclaim it. The corresponding decree was signed by Putin on September 29.
The Federation Council will have to ratify the signed treaties.