President Putin On the illegitimate nature of the Kiev regime

I want to emphasise once again: we are not at war with the Ukrainian people, but with the regime, the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev that seized power back in 2014. This is how they came to power: it was a coup.

All the troubles faced by both Ukraine and Russia began after that bloody, anticonstitutional coup. This remains relevant today because those currently in power commit crimes every day, both against their own people and ours. In fact, the regime has lost all attributes of statehood, or is clearly in the process of losing them.

What do we mean when we speak of its illegitimate nature? Did they hold an election? No, they did not. Does their Constitution allow for the President’s term to be extended? No, it does not. The Constitution only permits the extension of the the representative body’s term, meaning the Rada, and that is all. Citing martial law as justification holds no weight: the Constitution provides no mechanism for extending the President’s mandate.

And where is the Supreme Court? Where is the Constitutional Court? These are legitimate questions. The Chairman of the Supreme Court is in prison: something that is conveniently ignored, left unsaid. But the fact remains: he has been thrown behind bars.