Russia’s Central Election Commission said Sunday evening that the Russian president’s United Russia party came out on top in these regional elections in the four territories annexed to Ukraine.
Moscow claimed Sunday evening the victory of Vladimir Putin’s party in the elections organized in the territories annexed to Ukraine, with more than 70% of the votes, polls considered “illegal” by Kiev and its allies.
The President of the Electoral Commission, Ella Pamfilova, welcomed the elections which took place “dynamically, with few violations”.
With these elections spread over three days, from Friday to Sunday, Moscow is trying to legitimize its annexations in Ukraine by having the occupied territories vote in the east and south.
Despite strong condemnations from the West, Russia proclaimed in September 2022 the annexation of four Ukrainian territories which it only partially controls (Zaporijjia, Kherson, Donetsk and Lugansk), following “referendums” not recognized by the International community.
The fighting is still raging there and the Ukrainian army has launched a counter-offensive. In the four annexed Ukrainian regions, the occupation authorities have bent over backwards to present a semblance of normality, despite the ongoing fighting.
Moscow mayor re-elected
In the Donetsk region, voters cast ballots adorned with the Russian double-headed eagle, while in the Kherson region, Governor Vladimir Saldo declared a non-working Friday so that each citizen could “express their position”.
The Russians also voted Sunday in these regional elections without suspense, in a context of muzzled opposition, where the voices critical of the Ukrainian conflict are repressed unceremoniously.
For more than a year and a half, thousands of Russians have indeed been condemned, sometimes to heavy sentences, for having protested against the offensive in Ukraine. And no real “outside the system” opposition is represented: the opponents are either in prison or in exile.
The outcome of these elections organized to appoint governors, regional deputies and municipal elected officials should therefore not cause any surprises.
The election comes a few months before the presidential election scheduled for early 2024, which could consolidate Vladimir Putin in power until 2030. in recent days to inaugurate new regional train lines or renovated hospitals, was re-elected without difficulty.
Source: BFM TV
