The European Union has announced new sanctions against Russia
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has announced sanctions against Russia for holding elections in the territories of Ukraine occupied by the Russian army.
The statement says that the EU condemns the illegal organization of the so-called elections. According to Kallas, this is «another blatant violation by Russia of international law, including the UN Charter, as well as of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity».
«Individuals involved in organizing these sham elections or nominating candidates in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as those responsible for undermining the possibility of holding free and fair elections in Russia, will be subject to sanctions», Kallas noted.
The EU called on Russia to respect Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and sovereignty, and also stated that it would never recognize the holding of elections in territories not controlled by Kyiv.
The State Duma elections were held in Russia from September 18 to 20. According to preliminary counts by the Central Election Commission, «United Russia» will receive 355 seats out of 450 – a constitutional majority. This will be the largest «United Russia» faction in the party's entire history.
Kallas noted that these elections underscored the «continuing and deepening erosion of democracy in Russia», and that the exclusion of «Yabloko», with its anti-war platform, from the federal list «further limited the choice of Russian voters».
Russia's refusal to invite OSCE observers to these elections, her statement says, «demonstrates disregard» by Russia for fulfilling the commitments undertaken by all OSCE participating states, and denies Russian voters and institutions an impartial and independent assessment of these elections.
Source: Radio Liberty
