Invasion of Ukraine by Russia (RCB7-0263/2014, B7-0263/2014, B7-0264/2014, B7-0265/2014, B7-0266/2014, B7-0267/2014, B7-0268/2014)
Tatjana Ždanoka (Verts/ALE). - Mr President, I voted against this resolution. First of all, I am shocked that colleagues did not support the amendment demanding the independent and transparent investigation of all acts of violence. Secondly, the resolution points out that, according to the Ukrainian Constitution, the autonomous Republic of Crimea can only organise referendums on local matters and not on modifying the internationally-recognised borders of Ukraine. But are there no double standards here? Was the secession of Kosovo carried out in accordance with the Serbian Constitution?
As the International Court of Justice pointed out in its 2010 advisory opinion on the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, general international law contains no applicable prohibition of declarations of independence. Last but not least, what about the freedoms granted by the European Convention? The recent decision of the Ukrainian authorities to ban cable networks from translating TV channels into Russian is a new attack on the Russian speakers there.