Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
October 2, 2022
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) condemns Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. This move constitutes a blatant violation of international law, a flagrant breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty, and insistence on continuing the brutal invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s practices clearly demonstrate its disrespect of the sovereignty of states and the right of peoples to self-determination as it uses brute force to change facts on the ground, like it did in all countries that occupied part of its territories.
The sham referendum that Russia conducted and through which it annexed four Ukrainian regions shows the extent of disinformation it is practicing in Syria and Ukraine. This sham referendum does not differ from the referendums and so-called elections conducted by its ally the Assad regime.
The SOC calls for confronting Russia in Syria and Ukraine in order to save the lives of civilians from the terrorism it is practicing along with its allies. We also call for ratcheting up pressure on Russia to force it to withdraw from the areas it occupies in Ukraine; establishing a mechanism to end Russia’s military presence in Syria; and withdrawing the international powers it enjoys in the Security Council as crucial to resolving international crisis that remain unresolved due to Russia’s policies.
