Russia: OSCE slams Putin for the 'height of hypocrisy'
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 24 April 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: OSCE slams Putin for the 'height of hypocrisy', 24 April 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53a1379b3.html [accessed 23 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 24, 2014
By RFE/RL
The secretary-general of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for having "double standards."
Spencer Oliver told RFE/RL that it was the "height of hypocrisy" for Putin to condemn Ukrainian forces for taking action against pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Oliver noted that Putin signed a Russian law criminalizing separatism with jail time in December.
Oliver said: "In the OSCE, the Russians are always alleging double standards, but this is ridiculous because in Russia, anybody who calls for separatism is a criminal. So, that means that the people in Ukraine under Russian standards would be criminals."
As Ukrainian forces moved against pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk on April 24, Putin said the use of force by the Ukrainian government would be a "serious crime against their own nation."
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
