Ukraine's MFA responds to Russia's sham elections and addresses Ukrainians under occupation
Photo: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reacts to Russia's pseudo-elections and appeals to Ukrainians under occupation (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russia's imitation of the so-called presidential elections in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories demonstrates further blatant disregard for the norms and principles of international law, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Despite the condemnation by the international community, and numerous resolutions and decisions of many international organizations, Russia continues to try to spread the norms of its legislation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasizes that the so-called elections in the occupation are illegal and will have no legal basis. Forcing Ukrainians who currently live in the temporarily occupied territories to participate in the pseudo-elections is also illegal.
"This, combined with the absence of any signs of compliance with generally recognized democratic principles and election standards in the Russian Federation, as well as the elimination of opponents of the Russian authorities, calls into question the objectivity and legitimacy of any results of these "pseudo-elections," the Foreign Ministry adds.
The Ministry also calls on Ukrainians who are currently under occupation or are forced to stay in Russia not to participate in the pseudo-elections for their safety.
"On election days, we urge them to avoid crowded places near "polling stations" and the military infrastructure of the Russian occupation forces for their own safety, given the Russian authorities' proclivity for provocations," the Foreign Ministry adds.
Ukraine calls on foreign countries and international organizations not to send international observers to participate in another farce that the Kremlin is trying to pass off as the presidential election and to refrain from recognizing the results.
Russian dictatorship has nothing to do with democracy. It is not the free expression of the people's will that has kept Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in power for 24 years, but manipulation of the Russian Constitution, total propaganda, and the destruction of political competition.
So-called elections in Russia
In Russia, the so-called elections will be held over three days - from March 15 to 17, 2024. On December 8, 2023, Putin officially announced his intention to run for re-election.
According to Reuters, the so-called elections will allow the dictator to remain in power until at least 2030. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has already stated that Putin will be re-elected with 90% of the vote.
Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine speaks about how the pseudo-elections are being held under Russian occupation. According to Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the results of the so-called elections are already known in advance in the Kremlin.
Read more about the pseudo-elections in the occupation in the RBC-Ukraine article Elections at gunpoint: How Russians force Ukrainians in occupied territories to vote for Putin.
