Ukraine MFA: Russian Duma Elections on Occupied Territories Are Illegitimate

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the world not to recognize Russian elections to the State Duma and regional parliaments, which Russia is conducting including on occupied Ukrainian territory from September 18-20.

Statement: "On September 18-20, Russia will hold so-called 'elections' to the State Duma of the Russian Federation on temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. This is a farce by the occupying state that has nothing to do with democratic elections and creates no legal grounds for extending Russia's jurisdiction over any part of Ukraine."

The MFA emphasized that no "vote" organized by Russia under the barrel of a gun changes the internationally recognized status of these territories. Ukraine does not recognize these illegal elections and calls on foreign states, international organizations, and other subjects of international law to also refuse to recognize these actions.