Ukraine denounced today that Russia’s decision to extend its March presidential elections to Ukrainian regions occupied by the invasion is “a violation of international principles and laws,” while the Russian ruling party has already begun to prepare Vladimir Putin’s re-election campaign. , who made his candidacy official yesterday.
“The holding of Russian elections on Ukrainian territories flagrantly violates the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine, the norms and principles of international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations,” the Kiev Foreign Ministry said.
“Such an electoral process, like the rest of similar propaganda measures of the past, will be illegal and void,” he added, referring to the Kremlin’s intention to hold the elections in the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014, as well as in the provinces. partially occupied Ukrainian cities of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson.
“The inclusion of votes obtained in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine will call into question the legitimacy of the entire result of the presidential elections of the Russian Federation,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
“We urge the international community to strongly condemn Russia’s intention to hold presidential elections in the captured Ukrainian territories and impose sanctions on those involved in its organization and conduct,” he added.
“We also ask foreign countries not to send their citizens as observers to these pseudo-elections. Those who participate are subject to criminal liability under Ukrainian law,” he warned.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “any election in Russia has nothing to do with democracy” and “only serves as a tool to keep the Russian regime in power.”
This statement comes the day after Putin made official yesterday that he will seek re-election in the elections that will take place from March 15 to 17, 2024, stating that he did not see any “other option” than to exercise a new mandate until 2030. amid criticism from Western powers for its invasion of Ukraine and internal complaints for silencing the opposition.
In this context, the United Russia party today began preparations for the campaign for the re-election of its leader.
“United Russia is the president’s party, he founded it 22 years ago, he was at the origins of its creation and, obviously, it will take the most active part in the electoral campaign,” explained the secretary of the General Council of the force, Andrei Turchak, in statements to the local agency TASS.
All the forces of the ruling coalition will collaborate in the campaign, but United Russia will carry the greatest weight of the future campaign and “will provide all of its infrastructure,” said the leader quoted by the Europa Press news agency.
Putin, 71, was first elected president of Russia in 2000 and has won four presidential elections. Between 2008 and 2012 he served as prime minister in a political system in which the opposition is almost non-existent, after years of repression.
His new candidacy is possible thanks to a questioned constitutional reform processed in 2020.
Thanks to this amendment, Putin can run in 2024 and if he wins he will be eligible for re-election in 2030, meaning he could remain in power until 2036, when he will be 84 years old.
Source: Ambito
