The European Union said on September 21 that it did not recognize Russia’s State Duma elections held in occupied territories of Ukraine.
An official EU statement said the voting in occupied territories violated international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Brussels also criticized conditions surrounding the election inside Russia, pressure on the opposition, and the absence of OSCE observers.
The EU said people involved in organizing the vote in occupied territories, candidates there, and those responsible for undermining the possibility of free and fair elections inside Russia would be sanctioned.
No specific new sanctions list had yet been published on September 21.
On October 12, the Council of the EU followed through by imposing restrictions on 77 people: 74 candidates who took part in voting in occupied territories and three members of Russia’s Central Election Commission.