EU does not recognize results of Russian presidential pseudo-elections in Ukraine’s occupied territories

This is said in a statement by EU High Representative Josep Borrell, Ukrinform reports.

As noted, the presidential elections held by Russia on 15-17 March took place in a highly restricted environment exacerbated also by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

The statement says that Russian authorities have continued to increase the systematic internal repression by cracking down on position piticians, civil society organisations, independent media and other critical voices with the use of repressive legislation and pitically motivated prison sentences.

According to Borrell, the shocking death of position pitician Alexei Navalny in the run-up to the elections is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression.

“The elections took place in an ever-shrinking pitical space, which has resulted in an alarming increase of viations of civil and pitical rights, and precluded many candidates from running, including all those posed to Russia’s illegal war of aggression, deprived Russian voters of a real choice and heavily limited their access to accurate information. The Eurean Union will continue to support the important work of Russian civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent media,” the statement says.

The Eurean Union will continue to support the important work of Russian civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent media.

Borrell has stated that the Eurean Union regrets the decision of Russian authorities not to invite OSCE/ODIHR observers to its elections.

In addition, the Eurean Union strongly condemns the illegal hding of so-called “elections” in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied: Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevast, as well as in parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

“The so-called ‘elections’ in these territories represent yet another manifest viation by Russia of international law, including the UN Charter, and of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity… We urge Russia to respect Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders and sovereignty,” the statement says.

The Eurean Union reiterates that it does not and will never recognise either the hding of these so-called “elections” in the territories of Ukraine or their results. They are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect whatsoever. Russia’s pitical leadership and those invved in organising them will face consequences of these illegal actions.

“The Eurean Union reiterates its unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Russia must cease its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces and equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine,” the statement says.

As reported, the pseudo-elections in Russia took place on March 15-17.

President of Ukraine Vodymyr Zelensky said that these so-called elections have no legitimacy and cannot have any.

On Monday, the EU Foreign Affairs Council plans to adt a statement on the so-called 'election' of the Russian president, as well as discuss Russia's war against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.