At UNGA, India votes against holding a secret ballot on Russia’s referendum in Ukrainian areas

Russia’s demand that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) hold a secret ballot on if its move to take control of four partially occupied regions in Ukraine should be condemned was rejected on Monday with India also voting against the move.

Moscow’s demand for a secret ballot was rejected after including India, voted in favour of a recorded vote. Only 13 nations voted in favour of Russia’s call for a secret ballot while 39 abstained. Russia and China were among the countries that did not vote.

The Assembly then approved by a vote of 107 in favour, to 33 against, with 13 abstentions, the Albanian representative’s motion ‑ that the pending decision on Assembly resolution be taken by a recorded vote.

The draft resolution introduced by Ukraine, if approved, would condemn the Russian Federation’s annexation of several territories in eastern Ukraine in late September.

Monday’s special UNGA session was mandated after the Council on 30th September failed to adopt a resolution intended to condemn the Russian Federation referenda that preceded Moscow’s proclamation of its annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Introducing the text titled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine:  defending the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”, that country’s representative said that, since 23 September, the Russian Federation has again violated international law and the sham referenda in four Ukrainian areas pose an existential threat to the United Nations and its Charter.

The Russian Federation’s representative, however, said Ukraine and the West are pretending that history only began in February. He alleged that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) only wants to escalate the conflict as part of its plan to undermine the Russian Federation and highlighted that Western powers continue to supply the regime in Kyiv with deadly weapons, and Ukraine is now a platform to test them.

Russia demanded that the Assembly suspend Rule 87 of its Rules of Procedure in order to take a decision on the draft resolution introduced by secret ballot — a motion that was rejected.

Some members said that the Russian Federation’s efforts to hold a secret ballot is a threat to transparency, pointing out that there is no Assembly precedent to hold a secret ballot on a non-venue issue.

India had earlier voted in favour of a proposal to allow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to address the Council virtually during a debate on the Ukrainian situation on August 24.

New Delhi had reiterated on Monday that it remains “deeply concerned” at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

“India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians,” said a statement from Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

“We reiterate that escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest. We urge immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. India stands ready to support all such efforts aimed at de-escalation,” Bagchi mentioned further.

India’s statement came as Russia fired dozens of missiles targeting energy facilities throughout Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv today.

Russia’s response came two days after the Crimean Bridge explosion on October 8, which Moscow termed as a “terrorist act” conducted by Ukrainian special services which aimed at destroying the country’s civilian, critical infrastructure.

New Delhi once again reminded that it has consistently maintained since the beginning of the conflict that the global order is anchored in the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.

Also Read: Escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest — India on situation in Ukraine