The United States and Great Britain do not recognize the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea
The US State Department and the British Foreign Office did not recognize the holding of elections to the Russian State Duma in the occupied Crimea, which took place on September 17-19.
It is stated in the statements of these two countries.
"We do not recognize the holding of elections to the State Duma of Russia on Ukrainian sovereign territory and reaffirm our unwavering support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine", - the US State Department said in a statement.
The agency also noted that the elections were held in conditions that did not promote free and fair expression of will, and the adoption of several laws severely limited political pluralism and prevented Russians from exercising their civil and political rights.
According to the State Department, restrictions by the Russian government and the marginalization of independent political figures made it impossible for representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to observe the election.
The election on the occupied peninsula was also condemned by the British Foreign Office.
"We condemn the holding of these elections in the sovereign territory of Ukraine and reiterate that Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 was illegal and illegitimate and remains so", - the statement said.
London called the recent elections in Russia "a major step backwards for democratic freedoms in Russia".
"Measures taken by the Russian authorities to marginalize civil society, suppress independent media, and remove opposition candidates from the elections undermine political pluralism and run counter to Russia's international commitments", - the British ministry said.
What is known
- The SBU has opened criminal proceedings over the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, which took place in occupied Crimea.
- European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano said that the elections in Russia were held with numerous violations, and the European Union never recognizes their results in occupied Crimea.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called "marginal" European politicians, who came to observe the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea.
- Russian media reported that the European Parliament was allegedly pressuring international observers who had come to the occupied peninsula to observe the election.
- On September 19, the State Duma elections ended in Russia. According to the results of 90% of the protocols, Putin's party (49.66%) has won the elections.
- On September 17, elections to the State Duma started in Russia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested and condemned Russia's organization and holding of parliamentary elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea.
