By Roger K. Mason, The Chicago Times
October 11, 2022
NEW YORK – On Monday, the United Nations General Assembly rejected Russia’s demand that the 193 member body hold a secret ballot expected later this week on whether to condemn Moscow’s move to annex four occupied regions in Ukraine.
The General Assembly voted in favor of not holding a secret ballot on a draft resolution that condemns Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation.” Russia believes member nations publicly expressing their position will make “it very difficult” and surprisingly questioned the need to condemn Moscow’s actions.
“What does this have to do with peace and security or trying to settle conflicts?” said Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations.
Over the past two weeks, Moscow declared its annexation of four occupied regions in Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow is also accused of rigging a referendum in those regions in favor of annexation.
The draft resolution calls on member states to not recognize Russia’s annexation and to reaffirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
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