Russia Holds Parliamentary Vote in Areas It Seized from Ukraine in the War
Russia's parliamentary election for the first time includes residents of regions that Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine after the start of its full-scale invasion more than 4 1/2 years ago, part of Kremlin efforts to cement its gains.
Russia’s parliamentary election this year includes voters from regions Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine during its full-scale invasion over four and a half years ago. This marks the first time residents of these seized areas can participate in a State Duma election. The Kremlin views the move as a way to solidify its territorial gains.
Ukrainian officials have strongly condemned the elections, calling them illegal. A human rights activist in Kyiv described the residents of these regions as being forced to take part in the vote. The voting period, which started Friday and runs until Sunday to boost turnout, has already been under way in the annexed parts of Ukraine and some areas on the Russian side of the border since late last month.
Russian authorities cite security concerns for the extended ballot period. They claim over 3.5 million voters reside in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia territories, referred to by Moscow as the “new regions.” These territories were annexed by Russia in September 2022, despite not being fully under its control. During a recent poll, an armed Russian soldier stood guard near a ballot box at a polling station in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk.
President Vladimir Putin stressed the significance of voting in those regions for the State Duma, noting that soldiers who took part in the fighting will also cast their ballots. The first wartime parliamentary election in Russia aims to cement the Kremlin’s political dominance and demonstrate public support for the war. Putin asserted that voters’ choices and resolve will show the world that millions of people stand behind Russian fighters and that the nation is united in its values, historical memory, and love for the Motherland.
Ukrainian human rights groups have warned Ukrainians against participating in the elections, urging them to protect their lives, health, and safety. The coalition of nine Ukrainian rights groups urged residents of the Russia-controlled territories to stay away from the polls, emphasizing that holding elections in occupied territories attempts to legitimize Russian occupation and the annexation of Ukrainian land.
Authorities in the Russian-held territories reportedly go house to house, escorted by Russian troops and security agents, to compel people to vote. Moscow-appointed authorities pressure residents, threatening public sector workers with dismissal if they fail to vote and linking pensions and social payments to participation, according to a coordinator with the Donbas SOS human rights group.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko from Kyiv’s Penta Center described the elections as a farce, emphasizing that any electoral procedures conducted by Russian occupation authorities have no place in a democratic society.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
