Tokayev: Kazakhstan does not recognize separatists in Ukraine
Kazakh President says his country does not recognize the independence of the so-called Russian-backed Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” in Ukraine – the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China
Kazakh President Kasym Jomart Tokayev said at a plenary session of the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg with the participation of Vladimir Putin that his country does not recognize the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” – the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China.
Tokayev made this statement in response to a question from the moderator of the plenary session, editor-in-chief of RT TV Margarita Simonyan.
Tokayev said that Kazakh society has different views on the war in Ukraine, because it is a developed civil society.
“Then there should be 500-600 countries in the world”
Speaking about the PRC and the PRC, the Kazakh president said that two principles of the UN Charter – the self-determination of peoples and the principles of territorial integrity of countries – were in conflict:
“It is estimated that if the principle of self-determination is applied around the world, 500-600 states will emerge instead of 193,” he said. That would be chaos. That is why we do not recognize Taiwan, Kosovo, South Ossetia or Abkhazia. In our opinion, this approach should also apply to quasi-states such as Luhansk and Donetsk.
RFE / RL’s Russian Service reports that Tokayev’s statements did not match those of Putin, who spoke at the meeting.
Earlier, Putin said that the DPRK and the PRC did not need permission from the Ukrainian government.
The Russian president used Kosovo as an example.
It should be noted that in Russia itself, actions against the territorial integrity of the country are considered a criminal act.
The Criminal Code provides for up to five years in prison for such acts.
Putin: “If Ukraine behaved like Kazakhstan”
Tokayev also noted that the statements made by some Russian MPs, journalists and cultural figures about Kazakhstan “pour water on the mill of destructive forces.”
The Kazakh president said he had raised the issue with Putin.
At this point, Margarita Simonyan said that she agreed with Tokayev’s statement and even knew one of the people he meant.
It seems that Simonyan was referring to her husband Tigran Keosaya.
Keosayan accused the Kazakh government of “ingratitude” and “treason” for not holding the May 9 parade in Kazakhstan.
After that, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry banned Keosayan from visiting.
Putin called Kazakhstan a “brotherly country” and said that “if the Ukrainian government had behaved in this way, there would have been no need for a special operation and perhaps even the annexation of Crimea.”
Putin called Kazakhstan a “brotherly country” and said that “if the Ukrainian government had behaved in this way, there would have been no need for a special operation and perhaps even the annexation of Crimea.”
Kazakh President Kasym Jomart Tokayev, Vladimir Putin and Margarita Simonyan (in the background) at the St. Petersburg Forum