{
  "id": 8955521,
  "title": "EU and five other countries condemn Russia's 'sham' elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/eu-and-five-other-countries-condemn-russias-sham-elections",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T16:05:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RFI English",
    "slug": "rfi-english",
    "url": "https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20260921-eu-and-five-other-countries-condemn-russia-s-sham-elections"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The European Union, along with five other countries, has condemned Russia's recent parliamentary elections as a sham. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, dismissed the elections as a \"veneer of democracy\". According to RFI English, Kallas proposed sanctions against those who organised the elections in occupied Ukraine.\n\nThe UK, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada also condemned the elections, stating that they violate Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, as well as the UN charter. Punch Nigeria reported that the elections were held in Crimea and several regions of Ukraine under Russian control, including Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. These countries described the elections as part of a broader system of occupation involving the imposition of Russian administration, law, media, education, language, and citizenship.\n\nThe elections were widely criticised, with reports of enforced disappearance, detention, and torture of thousands of Ukrainian citizens. According to RFI English, the EU proposed sanctions against those who organised the elections in occupied Ukraine.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Politico EU",
        "title": "EU countries move toward Russia sanctions deal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/eu-countries-move-toward-russia-sanctions-deal",
        "published": "2026-09-21T15:00:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}