Russian Diplomats Surprised by Eritrea abstaining on UN Crimea Vote

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Leaked Audio Shows Russian Diplomats Surprised by Eritrea abstaining on UN Crimea vote


A leaked audio recording of a phone call allegedly catches two Russian ambassadors discussing their disappointment with Eritrea abstaining on a UN resolution declaring Crimea's referendum invalid.

The recording involves Igor Nikolvaevich Chubarov and Sergey Viktorovich Bakharev, the Russian ambassadors to Eritrea and Zimbabwe and Malawi, respectively.

The call begins with Chubarov congratulating Bakharev on Zimbabwe’s vote against the UN resolution. The diplomats then expressed their surprise and disappointment with Eritrea abstaining from the vote:

IGOR NIKOLAEVICH CHUBAROV: My congratulations! Your country (Zimbabwe) demonstrated very, let's say, right understanding about the situation on Ukraine.

SERGEY VIKTOROVICH BAHAREV: And as for yours (Eritrea), they have surprised, somehow. Are they f****** crazy?

CHUBAROV: And my Eritrea, as you can see, only abstained.

BAHAREV: It's very strange.

CHUBAROV: Indeed, yesterday I talked to the Minister. I said: "Well, how did it happen?". "No, we're, of course, with all our heart"....(laughing). And your guys were f****** good. The only one on the continent, think of it! Oh, no, Sudan as well.

BAHAREV: Yes, certainly, Sudan as well. It's strange that they showed weakness.

CHUBAROV: Well, never mind. All the same I'll make them recognize South Ossetia and (laughing) neighboring Abkhazia. I'll f****** make them do it (laughing).

The vote by the United Nations on a resolution declaring Crimea's referendum invalid passed the non-binding resolution with 100 votes in favor, 11 against, and 58 abstentions.

Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, North Korea, Nicaragua, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe joined Russia in rejecting the document.

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