WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2022 — The American Bar Association (ABA) is gravely concerned by the Russian Federation’s recognition of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) in eastern Ukraine. The recognition undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and threatens the peace and stability of Ukraine.
The ABA is also concerned by deployment of Russian troops in these areas and the mass evacuation of residents into the Russian Federation.
The ABA urges the Russian Federation to return to diplomatic negotiations to resolve disputes in these regions.
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.