Russia has started early parliamentary voting in the occupied rural areas of Ukraine. The voting period began on September ١٤ with mobile voting teams visiting residents' homes, bringing ballot boxes and mobile booths. Released videos show residents voting outside their homes, with members of the Russian Central Election Commission managing the process under the supervision of military and police forces.
Election Details
The Russian parliamentary elections are set to take place nationwide from September ١٨ to ٢٠. 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 areas, 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, accompanied by police and military forces, have been traveling between towns. However, released videos provide no 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 the occupied areas not to participate in this election, stating that organizing or promoting the elections could be recognized as a crime under Ukrainian law, with a penalty of up to ١٠ 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, describing them as a "sham election" aimed at legitimizing Moscow's control over these areas.
