Yesterday, on 8 December, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation announced that the next presidential elections in Russia would be held on 15-17 March 2024. In particular, in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded to Russia's statement and called the Russian presidential election on the territory of Ukraine "illegal and null and void".
"The holding of Russian elections on Ukrainian territories grossly violates the Constitution and legislation of Ukraine, the norms and principles of international law, in particular the UN Charter. Such an election process, like other similar propaganda events in the past, will be illegal and null and void," the Foreign Ministry said.
It added that the inclusion of votes from occupied territories of Ukraine is illegal and will call into question the legitimacy of the entire result of the Russian presidential election.
Therefore, Ukraine called on the international community to strongly condemn Russia's intention to hold presidential elections in the occupied Ukrainian territories and to impose sanctions on those involved in their organisation and conduct.
The Foreign Ministry also reminded foreign observers that participation in the pseudo-elections is a criminal offence under Ukrainian law.