Russia has begun early parliamentary voting in the rural areas of occupied Ukraine. The voting period started on September 14 with mobile voting teams visiting residents' homes, bringing ballot boxes and mobile booths. Released videos show residents voting outside their homes while members of the Russian Central Election Commission manage the process under the supervision of military and police forces.
Election Details
The Russian parliamentary elections are set to be held nationwide from September 18 to 20. The Kremlin has introduced this voting as a tool to gauge public opinion on the war in Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year. Additionally, early voting is taking place in several frontline regions, where Russian officials claim these measures are necessary to comply with military regulations imposed by Moscow and to protect voters and election staff.
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Reactions and Consequences
In Donetsk, election officials have been traveling between settlements accompanied by police and military forces. However, released videos do not provide any information about the number of voters or the level of participation at the time of filming. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has warned residents in occupied areas not to participate in these elections, stating that organizing or promoting the elections could be considered a crime under Ukrainian law, with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, the question remains: what options do people have when armed soldiers are at their doorstep?
Kyiv and Western governments consider the elections held in the occupied territories of Ukraine to be illegal and describe them as a "sham election" aimed at legitimizing Moscow's control over these areas.
