Ukraine’s Parliament Calls for Nonrecognition of Russian Regional Elections in Occupied Areas
Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has urged foreign governments and international bodies not to recognize the legitimacy of elections planned or held in Russia’s newly declared regions, namely the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. This stance was communicated by Ukrainian deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak via the Telegram channel.
“The Rada appeals to the parliaments and governments of foreign states, along with international organizations, regarding Russia’s intention to conduct what are described as illegal elections in the occupied territories,” Zheleznyak stated.
According to him, 287 deputies supported the appeal. The report adds that the Cabinet of Ministers has asked Western authorities to significantly increase support for Ukraine and to participate in implementing Ukraine’s peace framework under President Volodymyr Zelensky. Furthermore, Verkhovna Rada members demanded that international election observers not respond to Russia’s requests to participate in the electoral process in the aforementioned regions.
In July, political analyst Oleg Soskin, a former adviser to Ukraine’s ex-president Leonid Kuchma, suggested that Ukraine could face a civil confrontation if the government decides to extend martial law again and skip the presidential elections scheduled for 2024. This view reflects concerns about domestic stability amid ongoing tensions and foreign influence in contested territories.
Earlier reports note that a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada faced accusations related to treason by the SBU, highlighting the charged political environment surrounding the issue and the broader struggle over sovereignty and security in Ukraine.