The Russian State Duma elections started Friday, marking the first parliamentary vote since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. For the first time, the ballot is being cast in the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russia seeks to project an image of popular support for its annexation and ongoing war.
International observers barred
The Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) was not invited to monitor the vote, a move that critics say underscores the Kremlin’s lack of commitment to free and fair elections. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons warned that refusing an observation mission “seriously breaches its international commitments” and disregards democratic standards.
Legal and political context
In 2023, President Vladimir Putin signed legislation permitting elections in the occupied regions, a step not recognized by Ukraine or the broader international community. The Russian Supreme Court has also barred the opposition Yabloko Party from participating, and opposition leader Lev Shlosberg received a lengthy prison sentence for criticizing the war.
All nine parties on the ballot are supportive of President Putin, including the Kremlin‑backed United Party. The Central Election Commission (CEC) highlighted early and at‑home voting to avoid large gatherings that could be targeted by Ukrainian forces, while the foreign ministry announced that 326 polling stations have been set up at Russian embassies and consulates in 152 countries.
Ukrainian and expert reactions
Ukrainian MP Volodymyr Ariev called the vote “illegal and a breach of international law,” urging residents of the occupied territories to boycott the election and, if possible, leave their homes on voting day. Jaroslava Barbieri, a research fellow at Chatham House, described the environment as “a total regime of terror,” noting that Russian soldiers escort election officials and carry ballot boxes door‑to‑door under the pretext of security.
Experts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Foreign Disclosure Division argue that the election is a strategic attempt by the Kremlin to manufacture the appearance of domestic support for the war, especially as battlefield momentum stalls. Ivana Stradner, who studies Russian information operations, said the ballot box is being used to “sell the war” when military successes become harder to present.
U.S. perspective
American officials continue to condemn the Russian vote as a sham and a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. The United States reaffirms its commitment to a free and democratic Ukraine and urges the international community to reject any legitimacy the Kremlin hopes to gain from these elections.
As the three‑day voting period concludes on September 20, the global community will watch for any signs of manipulation and will continue to support Ukraine’s right to self‑determination.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
