Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang said on Wednesday that China will abstain from voting on the UN General Assembly draft resolution condemning the recent reunification of four former Ukrainian regions to Russian territory. 

"The draft resolution submitted to this emergency special session for voting will not help achieve the above-mentioned objectives. Therefore the Chinese delegation will abstain" Shuang told the UN General Assembly.  

Earlier today, UNGA members voted on a resolution meant to condemn Russia for the recent referenda on the accession of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions to the country and their reunification with Russia.

Moscow had asked for the voting done by secret ballot but the proposal was rejected by the majority of the states after 107 UN member states voted in favor of a recorded vote.

The UNGA session began on Monday and has been ongoing given that several states have subscribed to speak.

On October 3rd, the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, unanimously approved draft constitutional laws regarding the accession of the four regions, and on October 4th, the Russian Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building has ratified constitutional laws regarding the acceptance of the four regions. The Committee has also recommended that the chamber passes these documents. The Council is the upper house of the Russian parliament.

Residents of the new constituent entities are recognized, according to the State Duma laws, as Russian citizens effective September 30, the day the regions joined Russia. However, residents have up to a month to refuse Russian citizenship, otherwise, residents of the new territories can get their Russian citizenship by filing applications and being sworn in as Russian citizens.

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