ANCYL flouts immigration laws: DA supports Ukranian investigation

27 September 2022

The DA supports an investigation that has been opened by the Ukraine government against members of the ANC Youth League who stand accused of flouting Ukraine’s immigration laws. This is after they took part in the sham referendums that were organised by the Russian government in Ukraine’s Donbass region.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Ukraine Ministry for Reintegration stated that a number of countries, including South Africa (in this case the ANCYL) have sent representatives that are "participating in a collective crime against the sovereign independent state of Ukraine".

The Ministry also called on Ukranian law enforcement agencies to "investigate evidence that concerns conducting sham referendums – in particular, the legitimacy of entry, stay, and operation of so-called foreign observers...".

South African citizens have been accused of a serious offence by a foreign government and it is important that the South African government honours its obligation under international law by cooperating with the Ukranian investigation.

The DA therefore calls on DIRCO as well as the Police Minister, Bheki Cele, to provide their full cooperation in the investigation.

We will also request a meeting with the Ukranian Ambassador in South Africa, Ms Liubov Abravitova, to confrim the DA's support of this investigation and our assistance in this regard.

Issued by Darren Bergman, DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, 27 September 2022