2024-03-17 04:05:05
Threatening scenes from eastern Ukraine:
As footage on social networks shows, the Russian military sometimes visits eligible voters at home.
Armed men make sure that these people put their cross on the ballot papers.
The Russian elections are considered sham elections and are contrary to international law in the Ukrainian territories.
In December, Russia’s Central Election Commission announced that the March 15-17, 2024 presidential election would also be held in the regions of Ukraine that Russia annexed last year.
This also includes Russian-occupied Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast. The city was the scene of heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in early 2022. Russia ended up gaining control of the entire city.
Holding the elections in the so-called “new territories” is politically important for the Kremlin. However, this poses security challenges as Russian troops only partially control the regions.
In order to ensure as many votes as possible, voting could take place in advance in the occupied territories. To do this, election workers went door to door. They are asking whether residents want to cast their vote at the polling station now instead of on the 15th.
The media also reported that there was an order to arrest people who refused to take part in the sham election.
Putin recently spoke out and called on people in the occupied territories to vote:
“Let me be clear: taking part in the election is an expression of patriotic feelings. The residents of Donbas and Novorossiya are aware of this, as they vote for unification with Russia under the harshest conditions. They will make their choice in the coming days.
It is considered certain that Vladimir Putin will be reappointed as Russian President. The electronic online voting system introduced in Russia is also considered predestined for manipulation.