{
  "id": 7304425,
  "title": "SBU urges residents of occupied territories not to participate in illegal Russian elections Sept 18-20",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/sbu-urges-residents-of-occupied-territories-not-to-participate-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T11:26:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Interfax-Ukraine",
    "slug": "interfax-ukraine",
    "url": "https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1203896.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has warned Ukrainian residents of territories that have been taken over by Russia not to take part in the unlawful elections Russia plans to hold on September 18-20. The SBU stressed the potential criminal consequences for engaging in the planning and holding of these events. The SBU reported that Russian occupation authorities, with Moscow's backing, intend to enlist the participation of residents in these phony elections to bolster support for Russia's political entities. In previous instances of such \"expressions of will,\" the SBU documented how the enemy coerced Ukrainian citizens into forming occupation election commissions and staging propaganda events in favor of the Kremlin. The SBU emphasized that involvement in the organization and execution of unauthorized elections and/or referendums in the occupied regions could result in imprisonment for up to ten years and the loss of property, according to Article 111-1, Part 5 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. The SBU urged the public to avoid aiding the occupiers in legitimizing their presence and to report anyone aiding the enemy in preparations for the unlawful expression of will.",
  "summary": "The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has urged residents of the temporarily occupied territories not to participate in the illegal elections that Russia plans to hold on September 18–20, emphasizing criminal liability for participating in the organization and holding of such events.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Insider",
        "title": "Baltic export: The Insider identifies the Russian agents of influence working to destabilize Latvia's upcoming elections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/baltic-export-the-insider-identifies-the-russian-agents-of-influence",
        "published": "2026-09-14T12:07:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}