Russia Conducts First Parliamentary Election in Occupied Ukrainian Territories

In a move aimed at consolidating its grip on occupied Ukrainian land, Russia has launched its parliamentary elections, marking the first time residents of the four regions illegally annexed by Moscow are included in the vote. The polling stations opened across the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia areas on Friday, with voting continuing through Sunday to accommodate security concerns and boost participation.

While the broader Russian electorate begins casting ballots this weekend, voting in the contested Ukrainian territories and select border areas commenced late last month. Russian authorities estimate that more than 3.5 million voters reside in these “new regions,” which were declared part of Russia in September 2022 despite never being fully under Moscow’s control. The annexation has not been recognized by the international community.

At one polling site in the Russian-held portion of Donetsk, armed soldiers were observed standing guard near ballot boxes as residents cast their votes. Russian President Vladimir Putin reinforced the significance of the event in a Wednesday address, stating that residents are voting for the State Duma “for the first time since their reunification with Russia.” He also confirmed that active-duty soldiers engaged in the conflict would be participating.

Putin framed the election as a demonstration of national unity and support for the military effort. “Your choice and resolve will once again demonstrate that millions of people stand behind our fighters, that we are a united people… and that nobody can divide or intimidate us,” he said. The election also includes Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula seized by Russia in 2014.

The Kremlin’s primary objective appears to be securing political dominance and projecting public endorsement of the war. However, the process has faced vehement opposition from Kyiv and human rights organizations. Ukrainian officials have labeled the vote illegal and urged foreign governments and international bodies to reject the results. Kyiv has also warned its citizens that assisting in the organization of the election could result in criminal prosecution.

A coalition of nine Ukrainian human rights groups released a statement urging residents of the occupied territories to boycott the polls to protect their safety and health. They characterized the election as an attempt to legitimize the Russian occupation through the electoral process.

Christian Wigand, a spokesperson for the European Commission, echoed these sentiments, describing the event as a “blatant violation of international law.” He stated that the EU does not and will never recognize the so-called elections or their outcomes in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

On the ground, activists report widespread coercion. Violeta Artemchuk, coordinator of the Donbas SOS human rights group, alleged that election commission members, escorted by Russian troops and security agents, are visiting homes to pressure residents into voting. She noted that Moscow-appointed authorities are threatening public sector employees with dismissal and making pension and social payments contingent on participation.

Artemchuk highlighted that individuals relying on social assistance, including pensioners and people with disabilities, risk being labeled “disloyal” and losing their benefits if they fail to vote. Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst at the Kyiv-based Penta Center, dismissed the proceedings as a farce, noting that holding elections amidst ongoing shelling and bombing reflects a mockery of democratic principles.