Early voting in occupied Donetsk proceeds under armed escort

Early voting for Russia’s parliamentary elections has begun in parts of the Donetsk region that are under Russian control, with election officials and voters accompanied by armed personnel during the process.

Ballot teams, police and soldiers on the move

Russian parliamentary elections are scheduled across Russia from 18 to 20 September; the Kremlin presents the vote as a barometer of public sentiment about the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year. Russian authorities say early voting that continues in regions along the front line is necessary because of the martial law declared by Moscow and to protect voters and election workers.

On 14 September mobile voting teams visited rural homes carrying ballot boxes and portable voting booths. In Donetsk, election officials travelled between settlements accompanied by police and armed soldiers. Video footage shows residents casting ballots outside their houses while members of the Central Election Commission of Russia observed the process. The published material does not disclose how many people voted or provide turnout figures.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has warned residents of the occupied territories not to take part. The SBU said that organising or promoting elections under Ukrainian law is a criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Observers note the dilemma facing residents when armed soldiers appear at their doors: what real choice do they have?

Kiev and Western governments regard votes held in occupied Ukrainian territory as illegal, calling them “sham elections” aimed at legitimising Moscow’s control over those regions.

“Holding elections during a war would be a huge risk for Ukraine, Zelensky says.”

Photo: printskrin/Jutjub