A Truly Historic Day for Russian Speakers in Eastern Ukraine

Vladimir Putin’s History Lesson Ahead of Historic Vote by Donbass, Kherson and Zaporozhye Residents on Joining Russia

The Stephen Lendman Blog

Vladimir Putin’s remarks followed his game-changing Wednesday address to the nation.

He set the record straight on how he’ll continue to counter the collective West’s diabolical aim to undermine, weaken, isolate, destroy and partition the Russian Federation in similar fashion to how it decimated and dismantled the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

His remarks were on the same day as interventionist Blinken’s vow to continue Biden regime support of aggression by Ukrainian Nazis.

Ignoring the UN Charter right of self-determination, he also displayed imperial arrogance by slamming the right of Donbass, Kherson and Zaporozhye residents to decide whether to join Russia, stay independent or return to Nazified control.

In stark contrast to Blinken’s arrogance, Vladimir Putin congratulated the Russian people on the nation’s 1,160th anniversary, explaining the following:

“Veliky Novgorod, Rurikovo Settlement, Staraya (Old) Ladoga and Izborsk are the cradle of Rus, the source of our civilization and our state, our culture and education.”

“During more than a millennium, our statehood lived through many eras, including cruel enemy invasions, disunity and the tragedies of feuds, but each of these difficult periods invariably ended with the revival of the Fatherland.”

“The heroic generations of our people overcame difficulties and adversities, withstood the trials.”

“They created and expanded the grandeur of our Fatherland and covered their names with glory.”

“(S)tatesmen, workers, warriors, pioneers, scholars, ascetics, saints and, most importantly, all our people made Russia a great global power and determined its future.”

“Today, as we peer into the depths of the past centuries, we realize that we must not only preserve, but also carry on with dignity the traditions of our ancestors, that each of us has an enormous responsibility for Russia, for protecting and strengthening our vast country, our beloved Motherland.”

“No one will ever be able to ban or cancel our unique civilization and rich culture, just as it is impossible to rattle or even less so to destroy the values ​​that make Russian society one and make us one big, united nation.”

“These values embrace loyalty to truth and justice, respect for the family, love for children, a solid foundation of traditional values ​​such as mercifulness, compassion and mutual assistance, and the desire to make life good not just for yourself but for everyone, for the entire country, for all of Russia and, in the face of a common threat, to stand together as one ‘for one’s own friends’ and for the Fatherland.”

“Being a patriot is the essence of the nature and character of the Russian people.”

“Our heroes, our soldiers, officers and volunteers are displaying exactly these superior human qualities in the course of the special military operation.”

“They are fighting courageously, shoulder to shoulder, as brothers for the sake of saving the people of Donbass, for the sake of peaceful skies over our children and grandchildren, for a homeland that will always be free and independent.”

“For 1,160 years now, we have firmly learned that for Russia it is mortally dangerous to relax its sovereignty or renounce its interests even for a limited time.”

“Russia’s very existence has come under threat during these times.”

“We will not succumb to blackmail or intimidation, and we will never betray or lose our sovereignty.”

“By strengthening it, we are developing our country.”

“Sovereignty is the guarantee of freedom for everyone.”

“According to our traditions, nobody can feel truly free if his people, his Fatherland, Russia, the homeland is not free.”

“Responsible and strong power in our state is serving and will serve only the people of Russia.”

“This support for the key issues on the domestic and foreign agenda can guarantee the successful, safe development of our country as one of the centers of a fairer multipolar world that is now taking shape.”

The Russian Federation supports peace, stability, mutual cooperation with other nations and compliance with the letter and spirit of international law.

In stark contrast, hegemon USA and its Western vassals are perpetually at war on invented enemies in pursuit of unchallenged global dominance by whatever it takes to achieve their diabolical aims.

The great majority of world community nations oppose the US drive for hegemony by forever wars and other dirty tricks.

They’re on the right side of history while the empire of lies heads for its dustbin.

Separately on September 23, voting by paper ballots began — to continue through the 27th in the Donetsk and Lugansk republics, as well as in liberated parts of the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions.

DPR and LPR residents are asked whether they “support their republic’s accession to Russia as a federal subject.”

Liberated Zaporozhye and Kherson Region residents are asked if they “favor the region’s secession from Ukraine, creation of an independent country and subsequent accession to Russia as a federal subject.”

Because of US-orchestrated, directed and controlled terror-strikes on the above areas — forcing millions of their residents to seek safe haven away from their homes — hundreds of polling areas were set up for them to vote inside and outside their territories, including in Russia.

International observers were invited to observe voting firsthand.

On Wednesday, LPR Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairperson, Yelena Kravchenko, said applications were received from foreign observers from various countries.

Another CEC official said foreign observers and others representing the Civic Chamber will be at polling stations throughout five days of voting.

The same procedure is being followed by DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye election officials.

Russia’s CEC sent its own observers to monitor voting.

Because the Kiev regime continues to shell areas free from the scourge of its control, enhanced security procedures are in place to counter it.

Head of the Zaporozhye Region’s military/civilian administration, Yevgeny Valitsky, said air defense systems and other military preparations are in place to protect voters.

Before polling stations opened, bomb squads and bomb-sniffing dogs examined them.

In Kherson Region, police and Russian National Guard forces will protect polling stations.

In Donbass, Russia’s Defense Ministry sent forces to aid local police safeguards voters.

DPR leader, Denis Pushilin, and LPR head, Leonid Pasechnik, said their residents have been yearning to join Russia since Ukrainian Nazis occupied their republics and repeatedly shelled them cross-border.

According to Pasechnik:

“It has been the dream that we share.”

“It has been our common future. And now it is about to be put into practice.”

Zaporozhye Region’s Balitsky called referendum voting a “mere technicality.”

The vast majority of it residents already consider themselves part of Russia.

The same goes for Kherson Region residents.

According to days earlier Institute of Social Marketing (INSOMAR) phone survey results of 4,000 respondents, around 80% of Zaporozhye and Kherson Region residents, 90% of LPR and 91% of DPR residents wish to join Russia.

Their wish is highly likely to be granted in straightaway once voting is completed and tallied.

According to Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov:

“(I)mmediately after the decision to join Russia, the Constitution of Russia will come into force in relation to these territories.”

Kiev regime attacks on them will be regarded as aggression against the Russian Federation.

A Final Comment

On Friday, Russian upper house Federation Council Speaker, Valentina Matviyenko, said the following:

“I am sure that the referendums will take place in a way that no one will have grounds to question their legitimacy.”

“The expression of will takes place in accordance with international norms and the UN Charter.”

“The residents of the DPR, LPR, and other liberated territories have this right, a legal right.”

“And in today’s situation, it is actually the right to life.”

It “doesn’t surprise anyone” that the collective West won’t recognize the UN Charter right of self-determination in areas they seek to control.

Everything is well-prepared for referendum voting.

Russian parliamentarians will observe it along with international monitors.

“Everything has been done to ensure transparency and openness,” Matviyenko explained.

Russian lawmakers and Kremlin authorities expressed support for results of the referendums.

In the coming days, Donbass, Kherson and Zaporozhye residents will become Russian citizens — with full political, social and other rights granted them.

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https://stephenlendman.org/2022/09/23/vladimir-putins-history-lesson-ahead-of-historic-vote-by-donbass-kherson-and-zaporozhye-residents-on-joining-russia/

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