Intimidation, bribery, and pressure: Ukrainians under occupation forced to 'vote' for Putin
Photo: Ukrainians under occupation are forced to "vote" for Putin (Getty Images)
Russian military in the occupied territories of Ukraine are forcing residents to vote in the so-called "elections" for the President of the Russian Federation. The methods used by the occupiers include intimidation, bribery, and pressure, reports Ukraine's Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense.
According to intelligence reports, in the temporarily occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, representatives of the Russian occupying authorities accompanied by armed forces and FSB agents are going door-to-door to Ukrainian homes to explain "who to vote for."
The occupiers claim they can "fabricate" support for dictator Vladimir Putin of over 200%, and the outcome of the "elections" will remain unchanged. Russians imply that refusal to vote will be seen as anti-Russian sentiment.
The Main Intelligence Directorate adds that in the Kherson region, before the so-called "elections" in early March, the occupiers conducted filtration measures, during which they detained "unreliable" Ukrainians. The main criterion for this was the absence of a Russian passport.
Entrepreneurs and educators are also under pressure. Occupiers threaten them with dismissal and deprivation of the right to work. Meanwhile, retirees in the occupied territories are being bribed to "vote" for Putin.
"Despite pressure and repression from Russian occupying forces, residents of the occupied territories refuse to participate in the illegal legitimization of Putin's rule. Most people silently resist the occupiers by staying in their homes and trying to obstruct the representatives of the so-called 'mobile polling stations'," the report says.
Pseudo-elections in Russia
It is worth reminding that in Russia, the so-called "presidential elections" will last for three days - from March 15 to 17, 2024.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will be able to remain in power until at least 2030. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has already stated that Putin will be re-elected with a result of 90% of the votes.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, the Kremlin is gathering votes for dictator Putin even among "dead souls" - Russian invaders who died in the war against Ukraine.
Sources of RBC-Ukraine in the special services reported that there was a malfunction in the online voting system during the so-called "elections" in Russia. This was the work of cyber specialists from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.
Furthermore, more than 50 UN member countries have condemned the pseudo-elections conducted by Russia in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
