Ukraine: We call for condemnation of Russia's intention to hold presidential elections in our annexed territories
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the international community to strongly condemn Russia's intention to organize presidential elections in the Ukrainian territories it has illegally annexed, which are planned for March next year.
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In a written statement from the ministry, it was recalled that the Russian Central Election Commission announced yesterday that presidential elections would be held on March 15-17, 2024.
"WE CALL FOR THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS"
The statement, which noted that Russian officials announced they would also organize voting in the annexed Ukrainian territories, stated the following:
"Holding Russian elections on Ukrainian territory constitutes a gross violation of the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine, as well as the norms and principles of international law, including the United Nations Charter. Such an election process, like all past propaganda events, will be illegal and void. The inclusion of votes taken from Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories will lead to the questioning of the results of the Russian presidential elections.
We call on the international community to strongly condemn Russia's intention to organize presidential elections in the Ukrainian territories it has seized, and to impose sanctions on those involved in the organization and conduct of these elections. We also call on foreign countries not to send their citizens as observers to these so-called elections. Those who do so will face criminal liability under Ukrainian law. The elections in Russia have nothing to do with democracy. (The elections) serve only as a tool to keep the Russian regime in power."