Russia holds parliamentary vote in areas it seized from Ukraine in the war
Summary
Russia is holding parliamentary voting in occupied Ukrainian regions for the first time, as Kyiv and European officials denounce the move as illegal and coercive. Residents in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea are being urged or pressured to participate despite the war and ongoing shelling.
Key Points
- Russia’s parliamentary election now includes residents of Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow, alongside Crimea and areas near the Russian border.
- Kyiv, Ukrainian rights groups and the European Commission condemned the vote as illegal and refused to recognize it.
- Human rights activists said residents are being pressured to vote through house visits, threats to jobs and benefits, and the presence of Russian troops.
- Vladimir Putin said voting in the regions shows support for Russia’s war effort and political system.
