Moscow - President Vladimir Putin described as "cynical and dual" European and American politicians' claims that Russia is violating international law.
“It’s not even a manifestation of double standards. It’s an amazingly straightforward cynicism. One can’t be adjusting the situation to one’s interests so crudely. The same thing is called ‘white’ today and ‘black’ tomorrow,” Putin told the Federal Assembly on Tuesday.
Putin was commenting on Western politicians’ claims that Kosovo was recognized as an independent state exclusively because, unlike in Crimea, there were too many victims in that region.
“I wonder. Do they deem this to be a legal argument? The International Court of Justice does not say a word about this,” Putin said
“Do they mean to say that any conflict should carry on until there are deaths? Look, if the Crimea’s local self-defense forces had not taken the situation under control at the right moment, loss of life would have ensued. Thank God this did not occur,” said Putin.
Putin described the situation in the Crimea as absolutely similar to the Western powers’ recognition of Kosovo’s independence. No general ban on the unilateral declaration of independence derives from the UN Security Council’s practice, while general international law does not contain any applicable ban on declaring independence, he said, referring to the UN Court’s ruling on this issue.
“For some reason what is allowable for Kosovo – we respect the people of Kosovo – is not permissible for Russians, Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars in Crimea. The question arises: Why?” Putin said.
When the Crimean parliament was declaring its independence and calling a referendum, it cited the UN Charter, which speaks about the nations’ right to self-determination.
“Incidentally, Ukraine did the same, almost word for word, when it declared its exit from the Soviet Union. It used this right. But does it deny this right to residents of Crimea?” Putin said.
