EU condemns Russia's Duma elections on occupied Ukrainian territories, announces sanctions
The EU and several European governments condemned Russia's September 18–20 State Duma elections on 21 September, particularly the voting organized on Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories. High Representative Kaja Kallas announced new EU sanctions against organizers and candidates, while Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, and Romania also rejected the vote.
Key points
- Russia held State Duma elections on 18–20 September, with voting extended to Crimea, Sevastopol, and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts — the first such vote on the mainland occupied territories.
- EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced on 21 September that the EU will impose sanctions on persons involved in organizing the sham elections, candidates on occupied territory, and those undermining free elections in Russia.
- The EU said it will never recognize the holding of the elections on occupied Ukrainian territory or their results, calling them a flagrant violation of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty.
- The EU condemned Russia's barring of the Yabloko party — described as the only registered party with an anti-war platform — from the federal-list ballot.
- Russia did not invite OSCE observers to monitor the elections; the EU expressed regret, calling it a disregard for Russia's OSCE commitments.
- Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the vote a 'political spectacle' designed to entrench Vladimir Putin's power; Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said the elections were 'neither free nor fair.'
- Russia's Central Election Commission reported United Russia at 57.83%, with preliminary figures suggesting the party could take around 355 of 450 Duma seats, a potential record.
Why it matters
The EU's formal declaration that it will never recognize the Duma vote on occupied Ukrainian territory reinforces the bloc's policy of non-recognition of Russia's attempted annexation and treats the extension of voting as a separate violation. The promised sanctions target not only organizers and candidates on occupied land but also those undermining free elections inside Russia, broadening the pressure on the Kremlin's political system. Coordinated statements from Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, and Romania show a broad European consensus rejecting both the Russian electoral process and its projection onto occupied Ukraine. The exclusion of the anti-war Yabloko party and the absence of OSCE observers underline concerns about democratic backsliding in Russia itself.
What happened
Russia held elections to its 9th State Duma on 18–20 September. For the first time, voting was organized on the temporarily occupied mainland territories of Ukraine — in parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts — in addition to Crimea and Sevastopol. Russia's Supreme Court had earlier barred the Yabloko party, the only registered party with an anti-war platform, from the federal-list ballot, and Russia did not invite OSCE observers.
On 21 September, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas issued a statement on behalf of the EU condemning the holding of the vote on occupied Ukrainian territory as a flagrant violation of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty, and announced new sanctions against organizers, candidates who ran on occupied territory, and those responsible for undermining free and fair elections inside Russia. The EU said it will never recognize the elections on occupied territory or their results and called on Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine and withdraw its forces.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the vote a 'political spectacle' designed to consolidate Vladimir Putin's rule and said Estonia was coordinating a response with partners. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said the elections were 'neither free nor fair' and Lithuania would never recognize the results on occupied Ukrainian territory. Poland's Foreign Ministry condemned Russia's holding of illegal 'elections' on the occupied territories, Switzerland condemned the vote, Germany's government called the three-day process a 'staged event,' and Romania's Foreign Ministry condemned the opening of Russian polling stations in Transnistria without Chișinău's consent as a violation of Moldova's sovereignty.
According to Russia's Central Election Commission, with over 95% of ballots counted, United Russia received 57.83% and won 208 single-mandate constituencies, with the CPRF at 13.81%, the LDPR at 8.98%, and New People at 7.96%. Preliminary figures suggested United Russia could take around 355 of the 450 Duma seats — potentially a record for the party.
Background
These were the first Russian Duma elections organized on the temporarily occupied mainland territories of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in addition to the long-occupied Crimea and Sevastopol. Russia barred the Yabloko party — described by the EU as the only registered party with an anti-war platform — from the federal-list ballot, and did not invite OSCE observers. According to Russia's Central Election Commission, United Russia led with 57.83% of the vote at over 95% of ballots counted, with preliminary figures suggesting the party could secure a record share of the 450-seat Duma.