Russia Regrets 'Deeply Politicized' UN Resolution On Black, Azov Seas - UN Deputy Envoy

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th December, 2018) The United Nations General Assembly's adoption of a Ukrainian draft resolution on navigation in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea is deeply politicized, Russia's First Deputy Envoy to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy told the General Assembly.

"It is disappointing that Kiev and its Western sponsors of the General Assembly have submitted yet another extremely politicized and mendacious subject," Polyanskiy said on Monday. "We regret the vote that has happened, but we are heartened that many states abstained not wishing to have anything with this pernicious Ukrainian enterprise."

Earlier in the day, the General Assembly passed draft resolution A/73/L47 named "Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

" Sixty-six members voted for the resolution, 19 countries voted against it, and 72 members abstained.

The resolution follows the recent incident in the Kerch Strait that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The document urges Russia to stop restricting international navigation in the region.

On November 25, Ukraine's Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats and the Yany Kapu tugboat illegally crossed the Russian maritime border as they sailed toward the Kerch Strait. Russia seized the Ukrainian vessels and detained 24 crew members after they failed to respond to a demand to stop. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the incident was a provocation prepared in advance as a pretext to introduce martial law ahead of Ukraine's presidential election.