EU: Parliamentary elections in Russia held in an increasingly authoritarian environment

The European Union (EU) assessed that the elections for the Russian parliament (Duma), held from September 18 to 20, showed a “continuation and deepening of the erosion of democracy” in the country and that they were conducted in an increasingly authoritarian political environment.

“The lack of equal conditions was further exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories,” the statement said, particularly highlighting the restriction of political competition and pressure on opposition forces.

Brussels states that the decision to prevent candidates from the Yabloko party from running on the federal list further limited the choice of Russian voters.

“The decision to prevent candidates from the Yabloko party from running on the federal list further limited the choice of Russian voters, excluding from the electoral process one of the last remaining opposition forces and the only party with an anti-war platform,” the statement reads.

EU simultaneously criticized Russia for its decision not to invite observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to the elections, assessing that this deprived Russian voters and institutions of the opportunity for an impartial and independent assessment of the electoral process.

A special part of the statement refers to the voting organized by Russia in territories of Ukraine under its occupation. The EU condemned the holding of so-called elections in Crimea and parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, stating that they represent a violation of international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Brussels reiterated that it does not recognize nor will it recognize the holding of these elections, nor their results.

EU also announced sanctions against individuals involved in organizing these elections and candidates in the occupied territories, as well as against those it claims are responsible for undermining the possibility of holding free and fair elections in Russia.

EU finally reiterated its demand for Moscow to respect Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and to end the war, agree to a complete, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and withdraw its military forces and equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine.