The European Union has made an official statement regarding the election of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in particular in the occupied territory of Ukraine. In a statement on the website of the EU Delegation to Russia, the High Representative on behalf of the EU called the presidential election on Russian territory one that took place under severe restrictions.
The EU regrets the decision of the Russian authorities not to invite observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to its elections. In addition, the EU "strongly condemns" the illegal holding of the so-called elections on the territory of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia: in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson Regions.
The statement did not mention the "elections" in the small part of Kharkiv Region that is still occupied by the Russians, but the occupiers said they had set up two "polling stations" there.
"The so-called elections in these territories are yet another clear violation by Russia of international law, including the UN Charter, as well as of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement said.
The EU reiterated that it does not and will never recognise the holding of these so-called elections on Ukrainian territory or their results.
"They have no legal force and cannot have any legal effect," the High Representative added.
He added that the Russian authorities and the organisers of the elections in the occupied territory "will face the consequences" of these illegal elections.