The Sound of Freedom

by Stephen Lendman

On Tuesday, five days of democracy in action as it should be referendum voting to join Russia concluded in Donbass and Kherson/Zaporozhye Regions.

In Donetsk, turnout was 97.51%.

In Lugansk, it was 94.15%.

In Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions, it was 85.4% and 78.86% respectively.

Final results were overwhelmingly as follows:

In Donetsk, 99.23% of voters support accession to Russia.

In Lugansk, it's 98.42%.

In the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions, it's 93.11% and 87.05% respectively.

Results are unsurprising in predominantly Russia-speaking regions.

Donetsk leader, Denis Pushilin, already submitted a request for accession to Russian authorities.

Lugansk leader, Leonid Pasechnik, said he'll do the same thing on Wednesday.

So will Zaporozhye and Kherson Region authorities, mostly likely on the same day.

Dominant Biden regime Russophobes prepared a draft resolution in advance for the Security Council to condemn democracy in action referendums — what Russia and perhaps China will veto.

According to Russian upper house Federation Council Vice Speaker,  Konstantin Kosachev, once the above regions request accession to the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin will inform parliament.

If MPs and Kremlin authorities support accession, Russia's Constitutional Court will then check for any potential legal violations.

If none are found, formal approval by Russia's lower house State Duma and upper house Federation Council will follow.

At the same time, a constitutional law on accession will be submitted to the State Duma and Federation Council for approval.

Once Donbass and Kherson/Zaporozhye Regions become Russian republics, any foreign strikes on their territory will be considered attacks on the Motherland.

According to Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin will meet with DPR and LPR leaders on accession to Russia.

Peskov didn't announce a date when accession treaties with both republics, as well as with Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions, will be formally signed.

The accession process will likely be completed in a few days.

Peskov added the following:

"(T)he whole territory of the Donetsk People's Republic has not been liberated."

"We are speaking here about the territory within its 2014 borders."

"This is why we should at least liberate the whole territory of the Donetsk People's Republic."

Russia's SMO is proceeding as planned.

When accession of the DPR, LPR, and Kherson/Zaporozhye Regions is approved, a Kremlin statement is likely to be similar to what was said about Crimea and the City of Sevastopol in March 2014, stating:

Accession is "based on the free and voluntary expression of will by the peoples of (the above regions in open, free and fair) referendums.

Their residents will automatically become Russian citizens with all rights and benefits afforded them — including free education, healthcare, and social security pensions as constitutionally mandated.

When Crimea and the City of Sevastopol joined Russia in 2014, Vladimir Putin said the following in response to being asked if they'd be returned to Ukraine under any circumstances:

"What are you talking about? Such circumstances do not exist and never will."

The same reality applies to Donbass and Kherson/Zaporozhye Regions.

The overwhelming desire of their people to join Russia will be respected.

Once accession to become Russian republics is formally approved, reversing it won't happen for any reason.