EU denounces sham elections in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia
The European Union strongly condemns illegitimate "elections" in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and occupied parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions of Ukraine.
"We strongly reject this further futile attempt by Russia to legitimize or normalize its illegal military control and attempted annexation of parts of Ukrainian territories, as condemned in the UNGA Resolution adopted on 12 October 2022," EU High Representative Josep Borrell said in a statement. "It represents yet another manifest violation of international law, including the UN Charter and Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Borrell stressed that the EU does not and will not recognize either the holding of these so-called "elections" or their results, and the political leadership of Russia and those involved in organizing them will "face consequences" for these illegal actions.
The high representative said that the illegal "elections" took place amid forced and illegal granting of passports, including to children, forced relocation and deportation, mass and systematic violations of human rights, and intimidation and increased repression of Ukrainian citizens by Russia and illegitimately designated authorities in the temporarily occupied territories.
The European Union believes Russia must immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
What we know about pseudo-elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine
Russia held national elections on Sunday, September 10, including by-elections of the Russian parliament members and elections of governors and legislative bodies. However, the Kremlin announced it intends to hold a pseudo-vote in the occupied Ukrainian territories.
In response, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that it initiated the suspicion of the Chair of the Central Election Commission of Russia, Ella Pamfilova, who is organizing pseudo-elections in the occupied Ukrainian areas. Law enforcement officers also exposed 15 collaborators who are preparing new "elections" in the Luhansk region.
At the end of May, Russia made amendments to the law, which allows elections to be held in the occupied territories. According to Ukraine's security spokesman Dekhtiarenko, the so-called "polling station" in the occupied city of Kamianka-Dniprovska and Berdiansk in the Zaporizhzhia region burned down, after which the number of people who wanted to vote decreased.
Ukrainian kamikaze drones also targeted the Russian invaders' so-called "election" headquarters in the village of Skelky, Zaporizhzhia region. Partisans in the occupied Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region blew up a car belonging to the occupiers, transporting "ballots."
