The EU does not recognize Russia's sham elections in Ukraine and has promised sanctions
The European Union condemned the Russian Federation’s holding of so-called “elections” to the State Duma in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, emphasized that it does not recognize them, and announced its intention to impose sanctions against those involved. Brussels described the elections in Russia itself as repressive and non-competitive.
The EU emphasized that voting in Crimea, Sevastopol, and the occupied territories of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions constitutes a direct violation of the UN Charter and Ukraine’s sovereignty. Sanctions will be imposed on individuals who organized the election process or ran as candidates in the occupied territories. The EU also pointed to restrictions on political competition within Russia itself and the absence of OSCE international observers.
Source: “Interfax-Ukraine.”
The three-day vote for 450 seats in the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, concluded on Sunday, September 20. According to the Russian Central Election Commission, voter turnout was close to 59.32%. CEC Chair Ella Pamfilova stated that the ruling “United Russia” party received 57.83% of the vote.
Thus, based on preliminary data, “United Russia” may secure a constitutional majority in the State Duma following the parliamentary elections. It could win 355 of the 450 seats.
