Latvia will not recognize "referenda" in Donbas pseudo-republics on joining Russia - PM

  • 2022-09-21
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Latvia will not recognize the "referenda" that are being prepared in the self-proclaimed pseudo-republics in Donbas on joining Russia, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) said on social networks Tuesday. 

"We will not recognize the results of sham referenda planned in Donetsk. Putin's imperialistic ambitions are clear - to destroy the independence of Ukraine and bring it under Russia's direct influence. We must step up our support to Ukraine until it wins!" Karins said on Twitter. 

As reported, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (New Unity) has urged the international community to supply more weapons to Ukraine so it can liberate its territories occupied by Russia. 

"Apparently #Russia is moving ahead with organising fake referenda in the occupied territories of #Ukraine, international community must reject this move, more sanctions must follow and Ukraine must get more weapons to liberate its territory, we must say no to Russian blackmail," the Latvian minister tweeted.

Moscow-held regions of Ukraine will vote September 23-27 on annexation by Russia, separatist officials said Tuesday, as Kyiv's troops wrest back territory captured by Moscow's forces.

Separatist authorities in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions, as well as in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, said they would hold the vote over five days beginning Friday this week and ending on Tuesday.

Kyiv said the "sham" votes were meaningless and vowed to "eliminate" threats posed by Russia, saying its forces would keep retaking territory regardless of what Moscow or its proxies announced.