According to the Saudi Gazette, Russia has initiated parliamentary voting in four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claimed to annex in 2022. The election, which began on Friday and is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, includes balloting in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, as well as in Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. Russian authorities report that over 3.5 million voters are registered across these four regions.
The move has drawn immediate condemnation from both Ukraine and the European Union, which have stated they will not recognize the legitimacy of the voting process in these territories. Moscow has cited security concerns as the primary reason for extending the voting period, allowing for balloting to occur in border areas and occupied zones ahead of the official national conclusion.
President Vladimir Putin has publicly emphasized the participation of these regions in the State Duma elections, framing the process as an integration of the residents into the Russian political system. However, the international community largely maintains that the annexations are illegal under international law, as Russia does not exercise full military or administrative control over all the territories it claims to have annexed.
The story reports on an ongoing parliamentary election process in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. While the event is widely documented by international observers and news agencies, it is characterized by significant geopolitical controversy regarding international recognition.
No corroborating trusted sources found.
Original report: Saudi Gazette