Ukraine on Saturday strongly condemned Russian plans to hold presidential elections next spring on occupied territory, declaring them “null and void” and pledging to prosecute any observers sent to monitor them.
Quick Read
- Ukraine’s Condemnation of Russian Election Plans: Ukraine has strongly condemned Russia’s plans to hold presidential elections next spring in occupied Ukrainian territories, declaring these actions as “null and void.”
- Russia’s Election Schedule: The Russian upper house set the presidential election for next March and announced that residents in four occupied Ukrainian regions would be able to vote.
- Disputed Territories: Russia claims annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson regions, as well as Crimea, but these claims are disputed by Ukraine and widely dismissed by the international community.
- Ukraine’s Appeal for International Condemnation: Ukraine has urged the international community to condemn Russia’s election plans and to impose sanctions on those organizing and conducting these elections.
- Warning Against Election Observers: Ukraine warned that sending observers to these “pseudo-elections” could lead to criminal responsibility.
- Ukraine’s View on Russian Elections: The Ukrainian foreign ministry stated that elections in Russia are not democratic but are tools to maintain the Russian regime’s power.
- Putin’s Announcement: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his intention to run for president again, potentially extending his rule until at least 2030.
Reuters has the story:
Ukraine condemns Russian plans for elections on occupied territory
Newslooks- KYIV, (Reuters)
Ukraine on Saturday strongly condemned Russian plans to hold presidential elections next spring on occupied territory, declaring them “null and void” and pledging to prosecute any observers sent to monitor them.
Russia’s upper house set the country’s presidential election this week for next March, and chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko said residents in four occupied Ukrainian regions would be able to vote for the first time.
Russia claims to have annexed the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions in the east and south of Ukraine during referenda last year dismissed by Kyiv and the West as a sham, but does not fully control any of them.
It also seized the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
“We call on the international community to resolutely condemn Russia’s intention to hold presidential elections in the occupied Ukrainian territories, and to impose sanctions on those involved in their organization and conduct,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
It also warned countries against sending observers to the “pseudo-elections”, saying offenders would “face criminal responsibility”.
“Any election in Russia has nothing to do with democracy. They serve only as a tool to keep the Russian regime in power,” the ministry said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he would run for president again, a move expected to keep him in power until at least 203
