The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, has made the following statement:
“I strongly condemn the recognition of the so-called ‘people’s republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation in flagrant violation of international law and the Minsk agreements.
I join the Chair of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe Secretary General and Parliamentary Assembly President, in calling on the Russian Federation to reverse this decision and abstain from further aggravating the situation, and to comply with its obligations under international law.
I would like to express the Congress’ solidarity with the Ukrainian people and authorities at national, regional and local levels and our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.”
