March 13, 2003

THE SO-CALLED REFERENDUM IS COMPLETELY INVALID AND VOID AB INITIO AS A MATTER OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRACTICE

The so-called referendum is completely invalid and void ab initio as a matter of international law an practice.

The Attorney of Record for the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Professor Francis A. Boyle issued today the following statement.

Concerning the so-called "referendum" that is currently being imposed by the Russian Federation upon the People and State of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria under the circumstances of a genocidal military occupation regime, Article 21(3) of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) clearly states as follows:

"The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures."

This provision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is also a requirement of customary international law that is binding upon the Russian Federation.

Obviously, this so-called referendum violates all of the requirements of UDHR Article 21(3) and customary international law. Therefore, the so-called referendum is completely invalid and void ab initio as a matter of international law and practice. The "referendum" is entitled to no legal significance whatsoever.

Francis A. Boyle
Professor of International Law
Attorney of Record for the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria