International condemnation has mounted as Russia conducts presidential elections in occupied Ukrainian territories, widely criticized as "sham elections" held under coercion, with reports of armed Russian soldiers overseeing polling stations and ensuring citizens, including 98-year-old Yevdokia Romanivna, participate often at gunpoint. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, along with statements from the U.S. State Department, UN officials including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have declared these elections illegal and a flagrant violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and international law. Vladimir Putin is expected to win "another landslide" victory in these elections. This has prompted a strong response from various international entities and governments, including Australia and Japan, all of whom have voiced their refusal to recognize the legitimacy or results of these elections and condemned Russia's actions as an attempt to legitimize its annexation of Ukrainian territories.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns "Russian efforts to conduct its presidential election in occupied areas of Ukraine." "The attempted illegal annexation of regions of Ukraine has no validity under international law." https://t.co/tE6DHh3HFX
At #UNSC mtg on #Ukraine, #Japan condemns Russia’s Presidential elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine &states history will show futile attempts by Russia to establish sense of normalcy or legitimacy are doomed to fail #StandWithUkraine #JPNPres https://t.co/uOSGLJC3yj https://t.co/oIRGo6uQRK
UN political and peacebuilding affairs chief @DicarloRosemary tells the Security Council that Russia’s elections in annexed areas of Ukraine “are unacceptable”. https://t.co/beDyCOBv8o
Russia's intention to hold presidential elections in occupied Ukrainian areas unacceptable, says UN Under Secretary General @DicarloRosemary at the UN Security Council meeting requested by Ukraine Full text 👉 https://t.co/lvw3UFzFlD https://t.co/1NMyX0sJEV
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned Russia's attempts to hold so-called presidential elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine. https://t.co/h1JeFxBc45
Putin forcing Russia’s sham election on illegally occupied regions of Ukraine is a disturbing reminder of what is at stake for Ukraine. Whilst brave Ukrainians fight for freedom and democracy, Putin fights to force his tyrannical rule onto millions of innocents. https://t.co/WSMzIlwHAd
OPINION | Putin, Ukraine, America: A fake election and a real war For decades, his despotism and depravity was limited to the long-suffering Russian people. But he has brought war to Ukraine, not satisfied with just seizing its eastern regions and Crimea https://t.co/9nwrCE7adV
The Russian presidential election has started. This is how Ukrainians in the occupied territories are made to vote 98-year-old Yevdokia Romanivna from Severodonetsk is visited by a soldier with an automatic rifle & a woman with the ballots They make sure she votes “correctly” https://t.co/2lTBunYGGR
#Russia’s occupiers stuffing a ballot box in #Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia during the Russian sham presidential election #RussianWarCrimes https://t.co/8PbiaqTMo5
Condemnation of “voting” (by the way literally at gunpoint with no ballot secrecy) in Russian occupied Ukraine. https://t.co/iHQ9AiGM2v
Putin’s “elections” in the occupied Ukraine. The picture says so much. #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/ywmXtwLhHY
Holding elections in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine 🇺🇦 is a flagrant violation of international law. Australia strongly condemns all actions by Russia to legitimise its attempted annexation of sovereign 🇺🇦 territory & deprive Ukrainians of their basic rights. https://t.co/CZwmH5Oejv
Russians force migrants from Central Asia to vote on occupied territories of Ukraine https://t.co/y5erePclep
Russia holding elections in Ukraine is a further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/tMDooKt1oh
"The US does not and will never recognize the legitimacy or results of the so called elections in sovereign Ukraine and which are part of the presidential elections in Russia," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a briefing. https://t.co/3jyrOSk187 https://t.co/O647vBFtlC
#PseudoElections in the occupied territories of Ukraine are held at gunpoint, and even people who have not handed over their 🇺🇦 passports are forced to vote. Another #FakeDemocracy by the Russian authorities, army and media. The entire 🇷🇺 system is a rotten, obedient autocracy
Russia is continuing to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence through sham elections held in occupied Ukrainian territories. The U.S. does not and will never recognize the legitimacy or outcome of these sham elections. https://t.co/nFOuqT2RBF
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that Russia's elections in occupied territories are "illegal" and called on international allies not to recognize the results of any such contests. https://t.co/AnORxQDtQS https://t.co/QVEtyu6j5I
Ukrainians living under Russian occupation are coerced to vote for Putin https://t.co/LRPbObTgb2
WE COUNT THE VOTES: "Voting" is underway in the RU occupied regions of Ukraine-- literally at bayonet point. Russian soldiers oversee the poll and collect the ballots. Vladimir Putin is expected to win reelection by (another) landslide. https://t.co/8B8pOBDUtq
“Voting” underway in the Russian presidential “election” in occupied Ukraine. Fully armed Putin soldiers help collect ballots. Normal stuff. https://t.co/9iCtfCi8zi
spotted in donetsk, russian occupied ukraine: “voting” (this election's gonna be a nail biter) https://t.co/mz62LBW2Zs
Forcing millions of 🇺🇦 citizens living in temporarily occupied territories or those forcibly transferred to Russia to participate in "elections" is illegal. Those are another 🇷🇺 elections held at gunpoint that have nothing to do with democratic principles and election standards. https://t.co/m8bmBsL9t9