The Polish authorities do not consider the March 15-17 presidential "elections" in Russia to be legal, free, and fair, as they were held in violation of international law, in particular the UN Charter.
The statement emphasizes that the voting took place in the context of severe repression of the population, which made free democratic choice impossible.
"Contrary to international law, "elections" were organized in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine: in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Voting was also held in Moldova's Transnistria and the Georgian-held regions of Tskhinvali/South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Thus, the organized "elections" cannot be considered legal, free and fair," the statement reads.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian authorities have significantly intensified repressions against the political opposition, civil society, non-governmental organizations and independent media, as well as "all those citizens who dare to criticize the actions of the Russian authorities, including the aggression against Ukraine." The agency called the shocking death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in a penal colony the tragic culmination of these actions.
The consistent introduction of repressive legislation that restricts civil liberties and rights, including political ones, military censorship, politically motivated criminal cases and the denial of access to the elections to candidates who express anti-war views means that these "elections" can be considered neither free nor fair.
"Poland consistently and strongly condemns such actions. We also object to the non-admission of independent Russian observers to observe the voting process and the failure to invite OSCE observers," the statement said.
Elections in the TOT are illegal
According to the statement, the illegal decision of the Kremlin authorities to hold elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine deserves special condemnation. This is a blatant violation of international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations, and cannot be seen as anything other than another attempt to undermine the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
"Poland does not recognize the organization and results of the 'elections' in these territories. Russia must be held accountable for organizing and conducting them on the Ukrainian territories. Poland unwaveringly supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," the Polish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In addition, Poland also strongly condemns the organization of voting in Transnistria, Tskhinvali/South Ossetia and Abkhazia without the consent of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, respectively. In these cases, the "elections" were also conducted illegally and in violation of all norms of international law and democracy.
Elections in Russia
The "elections" in the Russian Federation took place over three days, from March 15 to 17, 2024. According to unofficial sources, Putin won about 87% of the vote.
As Reuters previously reported, thanks to the "elections," the dictator can remain in power until at least 2030.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has already stated that Putin will be re-elected with 90% of the vote.
Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine spoke about how pseudo-elections were held in the occupation. According to Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the results of the "elections" are already known in advance in the Kremlin.
More than 50 UN member states have condemned the so-called "elections" of the Russian president in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the "elections" in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Today, March 17, in the Moldovan capital Chisinau, a 54-year-old man threw two Molotov cocktails at the Russian Embassy, where a polling station was opened for voting.
Read more about the pseudo-elections in the occupation in RBC-Ukraine's article Elections at gunpoint: How Russians force Ukrainians in occupied territories to vote for Putin.
