United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres denounced the holding of Russian presidential elections “in the occupied territories of Ukraine,” his spokesman said on Friday.
Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, “The Secretary-General condemns the efforts of the Russian Federation to organize presidential elections in areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation. He recalls that the illegal attempt to annex areas of Ukraine is invalid according to international law,” reiterating the UN organization’s adherence to the “independence” of Ukraine and “its territorial integrity”.
On Friday, European Council President Charles Michel sarcastically directed “congratulations” to Putin on his “landslide victory in the elections that begin today,” adding, “No opposition, no freedom, no choice.”
The United States also criticized the vote, denouncing the “organized sham elections in the occupied Ukrainian territories.” The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to reject the result of this vote, which it described as a “farce.”
The Russians headed to the polls on Friday to participate in presidential elections that will grant Vladimir Putin, de facto and in the absence of any opposition, a new mandate.
Voting will continue for three days, and includes areas in Ukraine that Russia announced its annexation following the invasion it began in February 2022, and the pro-Moscow separatist region of Transdniestria in Moldova.
Putin faces three candidates who oppose neither the offensive in Ukraine nor the repression that has wiped out all opposition, culminating in the death of Alexei Navalny in prison in mid-February.
Putin’s victory in these elections would allow him to remain in power until 2030. Thanks to the 2020 constitutional amendment, he will be able to run again and remain in office until 2036, in which he will turn 84 years old.
ظهرت في الأصل على www.alhurra.com