Russia is holding elections to the State Duma in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine from September 18 to 20. Residents of the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson regions, as well as Crimea, are being illegally involved in the voting process. These are the first elections to the Russian parliament since the onset of the full-scale invasion, which included territories occupied in 2022.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated prior to the voting that the conduct of Russian elections in these territories is illegal, and their results are null and void. According to Associated Press, there are reports of pressure on local residents, including the involvement of armed representatives of the occupying forces in ensuring the voting process.
Additionally, Russia has refused to invite OSCE observers, which Ukraine views as a violation of the international obligations taken on by Russia.