but Kiev does not recognize Russian legitimacy to hold these elections in the occupied territories. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement The votes “blatantly violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” as well as international law.
“The fake Russian elections in the temporarily occupied territories are null and void. They will have no legal consequences and will not lead to a change in the status of the Ukrainian territories occupied by the Russian army.”reads the note.
The ministry adds that by organizing “fake elections” in Ukrainian regions and in Crimea, “the Kremlin continues to delegitimize the Russian legal system.”
Kiev also called on international partners to denounce the vote and not recognize the results.
“The people involved in these sham elections, including the leadership of the Russian Federation and representatives of the occupation administrations and electoral structures, must be brought to justice. We have also begun imposing new international sanctions on them.”.
Voters began voting today, Friday, in local and regional elections in Russia that include, for the first time, the four Ukrainian regions it annexed in September 2022, in a process that Kiev condemns as a violation of sovereignty. Gatherings should only close at 5pm (Lisbon time) next Sunday.
It should be noted that in the regions annexed by Russia from Ukraine, five parties with representation in the Moscow Parliament are competing, and there is no party in the opposition. Moreover, the majority of polling stations and CEC representatives in these occupied provinces are citizens who actually helped Russia organize the illegal annexation referendums last year.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the election results were “determined” and described the process as a “propaganda exercise”. Blinken said the United States “will never recognize Russia’s presence over any sovereign region of Ukraine,” adding that “anyone who supports this election could be subject to sanctions.”.
After the elections, local legislatures have 45 days to choose new governors, with the same current interim officials likely to remain in office.
A European organization condemns the Russian elections
On Friday, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe condemned Russia for organizing elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and considered them invalid.
The results of any “elections” organized by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine will have no validity under international law.And the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, an organization that includes 57 members, including Russia, which also considered that the organization of Russian elections in the occupied regions “violates the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.”
Such a violation is contrary to the basic principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Charter of the United Nations and international lawAccording to the same entity based in Vienna.
According to the OSCE, elections in “areas within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine” can only be organized by the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, in accordance with the country’s legislation.
The declaration was signed by the Acting President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Head of Diplomacy in North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Pia Kauma, and the Director of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Matteo Micacci. .
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