Ukraine's MFA warns CIS observers at Russian State Duma elections against visiting temporarily occupied territories

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has cautioned members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) observer mission for the upcoming Russian State Duma elections against visiting temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. In a statement regarding the mission's commencement, the MFA warned the observers not to engage in monitoring the voting in areas illegally controlled by the Russian Federation.

The ministry emphasized that Russia's decision to extend the electoral process to these regions is a clear violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as international law principles.

The MFA highlighted that any voting conducted by Russia within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders is deemed illegal, rendering its results null and void. The presence of foreign observers does not alter the illegality of the vote or provide a basis for recognizing its outcome. Instead, the MFA argued, Russia seeks to exploit the international observers' presence in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories to legitimize the results of an un lawful electoral process, occupation, and territorial annexation attempts.

Ukrainian authorities urged CIS member states to strictly adhere to international law norms, respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and refrain from any actions that might be utilized by Russia to legitimize the occupation. Furthermore, they urged the observers not to recognize any results of the illegal voting exercises carried out in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.