We respect the choice of the people of the South-East
4 claims checked against the record · PDF in six languages
Donetsk and Luhansk, November 2014
We respect the choice of the people of the South-East4 claims checked against the record · PDF in six languages
Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov, Churkin · Moscow, New York · Oct 2014 – Feb 2015. On 2 November 2014 the armed groups holding parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions staged "elections" of their own leaders and "parliaments". The next day Russia's Foreign Ministry said it respected "the choice of the people of the South-East" and that those elected had received a "mandate". Eight weeks earlier Russia's ambassador had signed the Minsk Protocol, which provides for early local elections "in accordance with the Law of Ukraine". Four claims, the record, and what each concedes.
The recordThe agreement Russia signed set the rule. Point 9 of the Minsk Protocol of 5 Sep 2014 provides for early local elections "in accordance with the Law of Ukraine". The OSCE Chairperson (31 Oct 2014) and the Secretary-General (29 Oct 2014) warned before the vote that it ran counter to the Protocol; the EU said after it that the vote and Russia's recognition of it were "in breach of the letter and the spirit of the Minsk Protocol" (OSCE PC.DEL/1318/14).
Fair to sayThe Foreign Ministry stopped short of the word "recognise" in its 3 Nov text and called for dialogue between Kyiv and "representatives of Donbas". Formal recognition of the entities came only in Feb 2022.
Claim 1 · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation · statement, 3 Nov 2014“We respect the choice of the people of the South-East [of Ukraine]. The elected representatives have received the mandate for resolving practical problems [aimed to restore normal life in the regions].”Russian Foreign Ministry statement, 3 Nov 2014, as reported by RIA Novosti, "Politicians elected in DPR, LPR get mandate to resolve crisis" (GlobalSecurity mirror) · source ↗
MisleadingThe Minsk Protocol of 5 Sep 2014, signed for Russia by Ambassador M. Zurabov, provides in point 9 for "early local elections in accordance with the Law of Ukraine". The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office said on 31 Oct 2014 that the planned "so-called elections" ran "counter to the letter and spirit of the Minsk Protocol"; the Secretary-General said on 29 Oct 2014 that they would "seriously undermine the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum". No international observers were present (RTÉ, Tier C). Concedes: That the vote was organised outside Ukrainian law — the statement speaks of a "choice" and a "mandate", not of the elections the Protocol provides for.Evidence tiers: A · C
Claim 2 · Sergei Lavrov · interview to Izvestia and LifeNews, 28 Oct 2014“We expect the elections to be held as arranged and of course we will recognize their results.”VOA News, "Ukraine denounces Russian stance on rebel vote in East", 28 Oct 2014 (GlobalSecurity mirror) · source ↗
Contradicted by the agreement Russia signedRecognition was promised five days before the vote and before any result existed. The EU told the OSCE Permanent Council on 6 Nov 2014 that the "so-called 'elections'" were "illegal and illegitimate" and, with Russia's recognition of their results, "in breach of the letter and the spirit of the Minsk Protocol" (PC.DEL/1318/14). Germany said the vote breached "both the letter and the spirit" of the Protocol (Federal Government, 3 Nov 2014). Concedes: That Moscow's position did not depend on how the vote was conducted: recognition was decided in advance.Evidence tiers: A
Claim 3 · Russian officials · 3–4 Nov 2014“[The separatist vote does not violate the Minsk deal.] [The Moscow Times' summary of the Russian position]”The Moscow Times, "Russia says Ukraine's separatist vote does not violate Minsk deal", 4 Nov 2014 · source ↗
Contradicted by the textPoint 9 ties local elections to the Law of Ukraine; the vote of 2 Nov was held under rules written by the armed groups themselves. Russia's delegation blocked a Security Council press statement that condemned the vote as a violation of Minsk (The Moscow Times, Tier C). Three months later Russia voted for resolution 2202 (17 Feb 2015, 15–0), which endorses the Package of Measures: "modalities of local elections in accordance with Ukrainian legislation" (SC/11785). Concedes: By voting for resolution 2202, Russia accepted that local elections in these areas must follow Ukrainian legislation — the standard the 2 Nov vote did not meet.Evidence tiers: A · C
Claim 4 · Vitaly Churkin · Security Council, 7384th meeting, 17 Feb 2015“[The Minsk agreements should be implemented] word for word. [UN meetings coverage summary]”UN Meetings Coverage SC/11785, 17 Feb 2015 · source ↗
Russia's own standard, not keptOn 21 Feb 2022 Russia recognised the "DPR" and "LPR" as states and on 24 Feb 2022 invaded Ukraine. The ECtHR Grand Chamber found that Russia exercised effective control over the separatist-held areas from 11 May 2014 (judgment of 9 Jul 2025). In Sep 2022 the same areas were put to "referendums"; the General Assembly declared them invalid by 143 votes to 5, with 35 abstentions (ES-11/4, 12 Oct 2022). Concedes: That the Minsk text — local elections under Ukrainian law, in Ukraine — was the agreed benchmark, including for Russia.Evidence tiers: A
What we askCite point 9 of the Minsk Protocol and resolution 2202 (2015) whenever Russia invokes the "will of the people" of occupied areas · date Russian control of the separatist-held areas from 11 May 2014 (ECtHR, 9 Jul 2025) · treat the 2014 "elections", the 2022 recognition and the 2022 "referendums" as one sequence under ES-11/4 and the duty of non-recognition · decline to treat any "mandate" from votes held under occupation as a party to talks
SourcesRussian MFA via RIA Novosti, 3 Nov 2014 · Lavrov via VOA, 28 Oct 2014 · The Moscow Times, 4 Nov 2014 · Minsk Protocol, 5 Sep 2014 · OSCE Chair, 31 Oct 2014 · UN Secretary-General, 29 Oct 2014 · EU at OSCE PC.DEL/1318/14 · German Federal Government, 3 Nov 2014 · RTÉ, 2 Nov 2014 · SC/11785 and resolution 2202 (2015) · ECtHR GC 9 Jul 2025 · ES-11/4 · full list on the last page
Donetsk and Luhansk, November 2014 · We respect the choice of the people of the South-East
Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov, Churkin · Moscow, New York · Oct 2014 – Feb 2015. On 2 November 2014 the armed groups holding parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions staged "elections" of their own leaders and "parliaments". The next day Russia's Foreign Ministry said it respected "the choice of the people of the South-East" and that those elected had received a "mandate". Eight weeks earlier Russia's ambassador had signed the Minsk Protocol, which provides for early local elections "in accordance with the Law of Ukraine". Four claims, the record, and what each concedes.
Donetsk and Luhansk, November 2014 · 6-page dossier (PDF)p.1 one-page summary · p.2 the occasion, the speakers, what others said and what was left out · p.3–3 the four claims against the record · p.4 the record side by side · p.5 the law, lines to take and Q&A · p.6 sources and method · v1 · 25 Oct 2026
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