Consequences of the severance of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Russia
Due to growing bloodshed in eastern Ukraine, intensified by Russian weaponry and agents of subversion, the degree of public indignation within Ukrainian society is reaching unprecedented levels. Maksym Vasin’s blog provides details on this.
Some are certain about the necessity of swiftly terminating diplomatic ties with Russia, and a few are even prepared to undertake this action themselves – by physically damaging the Russian Embassy building located in Kyiv.
2 Russian Embassy in Kyiv Ukraine Protest Consequences of the Severance of Diplomatic Relations
In light of this situation, it’s worthwhile to investigate the ramifications of cutting off diplomatic ties between Ukraine and Russia.
The main international instrument regarding diplomacy is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961. Both nations became parties to it as part of the USSR back in 1964.
The Convention outlines the following roles of an embassy:
1. Representing a country within the borders of another country;
2. Safeguarding the welfare of the country and its people, to the extent permitted by international law;
3. Holding discussions with the governing body of the host country;
4. Learning about the circumstances and happenings within a foreign country via every legitimate means and sharing them with one’s own government;
5. Fostering positive relationships between countries and encouraging the expansion of their ties in the spheres of economics, culture and science.
To facilitate these objectives, the embassy is excused from all forms of taxation and tariffs. Diplomatic staff members are provided with protection from criminal prosecution and specified kinds of civil and administrative actions. The embassy grounds, its formal correspondence, records, and archives are considered untouchable.
Besides a nation’s own choice, the discontinuation of diplomatic ties is referenced in Article 41 of the UN Charter as a global sanction against a nation whose actions represent a menace to peace, a violation of peace, or an aggressive act.
3 Russian gunmen militant Kadyrovtsy in Donbas Ukraine protest Consequences of the severance of diplomatic relations
4 Putin hands off Crimea Ukraine Consequences of the severance of diplomatic relations
While diplomatic responsibilities mainly concern a nation’s external policy and aptitude for negotiation, consular relations directly impact everyday individuals.
A consulate stands apart from an embassy because it offers services to its citizens located overseas, addresses their problems within the legal framework of a foreign country, and manages paperwork (visas, passports, official documents, certifications, etc.).
For example, consulates offer benefits to citizens in need of the subsequent support abroad:
1. Consular authentication (validation) of official paperwork;
2. Logging of vital records (a child’s birth, a death, a marriage or a divorce, an alteration of name);
3. Obtaining records from your home country pertaining to educational subjects, vital statistics records or files from the archives;
4. Providing or prolonging the duration of a foreign passport belonging to a Ukrainian citizen;
5. Documenting data regarding children born abroad into citizens’ passports;
6. Getting hold of a form of identification for going back to your country should you misplace your passport or it runs out;
7. Legal attestations.
Luckily, the ending of diplomatic relations doesn’t automatically result in the ending of consular relations. A separate global agreement takes care of this detail – the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963.
Because of this, assuming diplomatic ties with Russia are broken off, Ukrainian people can still gain access to the complete set of essential consular assistance. This, of course, depends on relations between both nations not escalating into a declared military clash, which has the potential to bring about the termination of consular relations.
I wish with all my heart it never gets to that point. Diplomacy, whether Ukrainian or global, still has an opportunity to stop even greater numbers of casualties resulting from the Kremlin’s hunger for empire.
Maxim VASIN
