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Crimean issue should be discussed in UN General Assembly

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The transfer of Crimea in 1954 was an administrative action of the Supreme Soviet which transferred the government of the Crimean peninsula from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian SSR.

On 19 February 1954 the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union issued a decree transferring the Crimean Oblast from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian SSR. According to the Soviet Constitution (article 18), the borders of a republic within the Soviet Union could not be re-drawn without the agreement of the republic in question. The transfer was approved by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union; however, according to article 33 of the constitution, the Presidium did not have the authority to do so. The constitutional change (articles 22 and 23) to accommodate the transfer was made several days after the decree issued by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.

The question should have been submitted to the open discussion of the Supreme Council of the Russian SSR. Moreover, a referendum should have been conducted to find out the opinion of the residents of the two republics. Nothing of that happened. The Presidium of the Supreme Council gathered for a session on February 19, 1954 - only 13 of 27 members were present. There was no quorum, but the decision was adopted unanimously
1954 transfer of Crimea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Supreme Soviet (Russian: Верховный Совет, Verkhóvnyj Sovét, English: literally "Supreme Council") was the common name for the legislative bodies (parliaments) of the Soviet socialist republics (SSR) in the Soviet Union. These soviets were modeled after the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, established in 1938, and were nearly identical. Soviet-approved delegates to the Supreme Soviets were periodically elected in unopposed elections. The soviets were largely rubber stamp institutions, approving decisions handed to them by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union or of each SSR. The soviets met infrequently (often only twice a year for only several days) and elected the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, a permanent body, to act on their behalf while the soviet was not in session. The chairman of the presidium was the head of state. The Supreme Soviets also elected the Council of Ministers, an executive body.
Supreme Soviet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (Russian: Президиум Верховного Совета or Prezidium Verkhovnogo Soveta) was a Soviet governmental institution – a permanent body of the Supreme Soviets (parliaments). This body was of the all-Union level (Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union), as well as in all Soviet republics (e.g., Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR) and autonomous republics. Structure and functions of the presidiums in these republics were virtually identical.[1] The presidiums were elected by the Supreme Soviet to act on its behalf while the soviet was not in session. The chairman of the presidium was the de jure head of state.

According to the Constitution of the USSR, the basic powers of Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR were:
  • promulgation of decrees;
  • interpretation of current Soviet laws;
  • dissolution of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the basis of Article 47 of the Constitution of the USSR and setting new elections: carrying out a national referendum on its own initiative or at the request of one of the republics of the Union;
  • abrogation of decrees, issued by the Council of Ministers and Council of Ministers of the republics of the Union in case there is a discrepancy with the law;
  • relieving Chairman of the Council of Ministers of his post and appointing Ministers of the USSR (between sessions of the Supreme Soviet) with the subsequent submittal for the Supreme Soviet’s approval;
  • establishment of orders and medals of the USSR and carrying out the awarding procedures;
  • establishment of honorary titles of the USSR and their assignment;
  • realization of the right to pardon;
  • appointment and dismissal of the highest command of the Soviet Armed Forces;
  • establishment of military and diplomatic ranks and other special ranks;
  • declaration of the general and partial mobilization;
  • declaration of war in case of an attack on the USSR or in case when it was necessary to implement obligations of international mutual defense treaties;
  • ratification and denunciation of international treaties, signed by the USSR;
  • representation of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (between its sessions) in its relations with parliaments of foreign countries;
  • appointment and dismissal of Soviet plenipotentiaries in foreign countries;
  • receiving of Letters of Credence and Letters of Recall from foreign diplomatic representatives, accredited in the USSR;
  • declaration of the martial law in a given region or across the USSR in the interest of defending the USSR or preserving public order and state security.
The presidium also dealt with questions regarding the acquisition of the Soviet citizenship, its forfeiting or voluntary rejection.
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There were three power hierarchies in the Soviet Union: the legislative branch represented by the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, the government represented by the Council of Ministers, and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), the only legal party and the ultimate policymaker in the country.

No formal separation of powers existed between the Party, Supreme Soviet and Council of Ministers

Lest we forget, the Soviet Union was a totalitarian state.....
 
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It did not have to do with Ukraine and Belarus being both founding republics and unitary states?
They say that the Soviet Union wanted to up the number of UN Soviet member states to 15. However, the United States threatened to bring to UN all 50 states. I do not know whether it's true or not. But for Ukraine and Belarussia they made an exception because these areas was the most suffered during WW2.
 
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U.S. ambassador notes obstacles in UN Security Council because Russia's position
11.06.2015

The UN Security Council is unable to perform its duties fully because of the destructive actions of Russia, according to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power.

"The frustration at the heart of your question I very much share," she said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday when asked if she thinks that Russia will ever lose its veto right in the UN Security Council.

According to the U.S. ambassador, Russia is using the right of veto not only in the matters related to Ukraine, it has used its veto with regards Syria four times, thereby advocating the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian authorities against its own population. It is true that Russia, which is a member of the UN Security Council is not going to allow the Security Council to condemn Russia, Power said.

''Oh, how I wanted to impose its veto on their right of veto,'' she added.

At the same time, the U.S. representative to the UN noted that there have been other mechanisms within the UN and beyond that have held Russia accountable.
 
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Russia abuses veto privilege, violates UN Charter - Power| Ukrinform

KYIV, June 15 /Ukrinform/. The Russian Federation violates the UN Charter and abuses the right of veto in the UN Security Council.

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samantha Power said this in an interview with 1+1 Ukraine's TV channel, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"We see that the right of veto is abused, and the UN Charter is often violated. This is very disturbing," she replied to a question about whether the UN may recognize Russia as an aggressor and deny its right to veto.

At the same time, she said that the ways of influencing Russia apart from the Security Council were effective. "We have found the ways to show the Russian aggression out of the framework of the UN Security Council, ranging from financing the OSCE and the Office for Human Rights, which documents the actions of Russia and its army and the violations of the ceasefire to urging Western countries to impose sanctions in response to the aggression," Power said.

However, she assured that the UN Security Council is able to perform its main task - to ensure international peace. "It would be good if the Security Council did what it should, and contributed to the strengthening of international peace and security, but we cannot afford to think that it is not able cope with this task, because such an idea would strengthen Russia's position," Power said.

According to her, now it is needed to focus on other instruments to isolate Russia. "On the contrary, we must focus on other available tools to isolate Russia," she said.

 
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