MOSCOW.- Russia’s electoral authorities announced on Monday that next year’s presidential elections will also be held in four partially occupied Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed in 2022 following its invasion.
The Russian Central Election Commission adopted the decree to proceed with voting in the Russian-controlled parts of the Ukrainian regions of Donestsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Elections will also be held on the Crimean peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Last Thursday, Russian lawmakers set March 17, 2024 as the date for the next presidential election. The next day, President Vladimir Putin announced his candidacy, and he is almost certain to win another six-year term.
The head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, said last week that the commission would make a separate decision on whether to hold elections in the four partially controlled Ukrainian regions because martial law is in force in those areas. A few months ago, Russian lawmakers changed regulations to allow elections to be held in territories where martial law is in effect.
Russian authorities held elections in the annexed regions in September for Congresses installed by Moscow. Ukraine and its Western allies claimed it had been a sham.
Ukraine reaction
Ukraine has condemned Russia’s intention to organize presidential elections in occupied territory. Its Foreign Ministry said such voting in occupied regions would be “null and void” and said any international observers sent to monitor the Russian elections would face “criminal liabilities.”
The Ukrainian ministry called on the international community to condemn Russia’s intentions and impose sanctions on those involved.
Source: AP
