The ongoing parliamentary election in Russia now incorporates residents from regions in Ukraine that were annexed following the full-scale invasion launched more than four years ago. This move has been met with strong condemnation from Kyiv, which alleges that the voting process is being conducted under duress. Voting for the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, commenced on Friday and will continue until Sunday. However, polling within the annexed territories and several areas bordering Russia has been occurring since the end of last month.

Authorities in Russia claim that over 3.5 million voters reside in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia territories, which Moscow refers to as “new regions.” This annexation occurred in September 2022, despite the fact that full control over these areas has not been established. International recognition of this annexation remains absent.

In regions such as Donetsk, observers reported seeing voters cast their ballots under the watchful eye of armed Russian soldiers at polling stations. Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the significance of voting in these areas in a speech, underscoring the purported reunification of these territories with Russia. Putin also mentioned that military personnel engaged in the conflict would participate in the electoral process.

International Responses and Reactions

The Ukrainian government has denounced the voting in the occupied regions as illegal, urging foreign nations and international organisations to refrain from recognising the elections. Additionally, Ukrainian authorities have cautioned that citizens who assist in organising the voting could face criminal repercussions. A coalition of nine Ukrainian human rights groups implored residents in these territories to avoid the polls, asserting that the elections are a tactic to legitimise Russian occupation.

Christian Wigand, spokesperson for the European Commission, labelled the voting in Russian-controlled areas as a “blatant violation of international law.” He reinforced that the European Union does not, and will not, recognise these so-called elections or their results.

Violeta Artemchuk, a coordinator with the Donbas SOS human rights group, reported that individuals from local election commissions have been visiting homes alongside Russian security personnel to compel residents to vote under threat. She indicated that those working in the public sector faced the possibility of dismissal if they did not participate, and that vital social support mechanisms were being tied to electoral participation.

Conditions Surrounding the Elections

The political climate surrounding this election is marked by considerable tension and allegations of coercion. Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst from the Kyiv-based Penta Center, described the elections as a farce, conducted under the threat of violence. He commented that the ongoing conflict and the turbulent atmosphere in the occupied territories diminish the integrity of any electoral procedure enforced by Russian authorities.

The current situation encapsulates a broader narrative concerning the Kremlin’s approach to governance in regions it occupies. Observations indicate that the practice of conducting elections amid active conflict raises questions about the legitimacy of the electoral process and the notion of democracy in those areas.

As Russia embarks on its first wartime election for the State Duma, the inclusion of these contested regions has intensified international scrutiny and allegations regarding coercion. With the eyes of the world watching, the implications of this electoral exercise may resonate far beyond the immediate geographical and political context.

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