Putin accuses Ukraine of meddling in Russian elections; Kyiv condemns voting in occupied territories
Putin says Kyiv obstructs talks and interferes in Moscow’s parliamentary vote; Kyiv and rights groups condemn ballots held in occupied Ukrainian regions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of deliberately obstructing talks to end the war and of trying to interfere in Russia’s parliamentary elections, which are underway and will continue until tomorrow. "Ukraine has long turned into a dictatorship. The Ukrainian leadership is in no hurry to hold elections, but is also trying to interfere in our affairs," Putin said, without offering evidence.
Voting on occupied ground and international condemnation
Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky — whose presidential term has expired — have said elections cannot be held in Ukraine while the state of emergency imposed after the Russian invasion of February 2022 remains in force.
For the first time, ballots for the Lower House of the Russian parliament are being cast in territories of Ukraine under Russian control. Kyiv denounced the move as illegal and critics and human-rights groups say residents have been coerced into participating.
Russian authorities say there are more than 3.5 million voters registered in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — regions Moscow annexed in September 2022 but which are not fully under Russian control. Video from polling stations has shown armed soldiers guarding voting sites, and Putin said Russian troops engaged in fighting would also vote. "Your choice and determination will once again show that behind our fighters stand millions of people, that we are a united people, connected by shared values, historical memory and love for the motherland and that no one can divide or threaten us, nor undermine our statehood and our political system," Putin said ahead of the elections.
Kyiv urged foreign governments and international organizations not to recognize the vote and warned Ukrainians that taking part in organizing the balloting could carry criminal consequences. A coalition of nine Ukrainian human-rights groups called on residents in territories under Russian control not to go to the polls.
Kiev derided the nationwide vote as "pseudo-elections," noting that ten parties loyal to the Kremlin are contesting while independent opposition is banned.
Photo: AP)
