Local elections take place across Russia, but Ukraine is 'not on the agenda'
1 year, 3 months ago

Local elections take place across Russia, but Ukraine is 'not on the agenda'

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Local elections kicked off in Russia this weekend in 79 regions, with voters are casting their ballots for governors, regional legislatures, city and municipal councils. Russian authorities are also holding local elections in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed illegally last year — the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia provinces. There are hardly any exciting races, notes political analyst Abbas Gallyamov, mainly because “the most important issue in Russian politics — the issue of war and peace — is not on the agenda at all.” “The voter feels that, the voter sees that it’s not interesting,” Gallyamov, who once worked as a speechwriter for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told The Associated Press in an interview.

Elections Local Elections Ukraine Russia Regions Russian Moscow Email Verifyerrors Inside Washington Gallyamov  voters  russia  elections  ukraine  agenda  russian  place  regions  email  verifyerrors  washington  voting  local  war

History of this topic

AP PHOTOS: Russians vote in election dominated by Putin
9 months, 1 week ago

AP PHOTOS: Russians vote in election dominated by Putin

Associated Press  

From the hush of isolated Siberian villages to the clamor of big cities to war battered towns in occupied parts of Ukraine, Russians voted in a presidential election overwhelmingly dominated by Vladimir Putin. Voters in Russia headed to the polls for a presidential election that was all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule after he clamped down on …

At gunpoint, Ukrainians in occupied regions vote in Russia’s election
9 months, 1 week ago

At gunpoint, Ukrainians in occupied regions vote in Russia’s election

Al Jazeera  

Ukrainians and a rights group say people are being coerced to vote by their occupiers in election dismissed as a sham. So the only way to safely say “no” is to keep the door closed to election officials and avoid the polling stations that opened on Friday, the first day of Russia’s three-day election. “For the first time, we are …

Russians head to polls in a vote set to extend Putin's rule
9 months, 1 week ago

Russians head to polls in a vote set to extend Putin's rule

The Hindu  

Voters headed to the polls in Russia on March 15 for a three-day presidential election that is all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule by six more years after he stifled dissent. The election takes place against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has crippled independent media and prominent rights groups and given Mr. Putin full control …

Ukrainians living under Russian occupation are coerced to vote for Putin
9 months, 1 week ago

Ukrainians living under Russian occupation are coerced to vote for Putin

Associated Press  

Ukrainians living in regions illegally annexed by Russia are being coerced to vote in the presidential election of their wartime occupier, Vladimir Putin — an exercise denounced by Ukraine as an illegitimate effort by Moscow to tighten control over its neighbor. The Kremlin views the voting in occupied regions of Ukraine as a “test of loyalty” for civilians and local …

Russia plans presidential vote in annexed Ukrainian regions
1 year ago

Russia plans presidential vote in annexed Ukrainian regions

Al Jazeera  

The decision raises logistical and security challenges for Moscow because of its limited control in the four regions. Russia plans to run next year’s presidential election in the four regions of Ukraine that it annexed in 2022. Moscow’s ability to hold the election in what it calls its “new territories” is politically important for the Kremlin, but it raises logistical …

Russia holds elections in occupied Ukrainian regions in an effort to tighten its grip there
1 year, 3 months ago

Russia holds elections in occupied Ukrainian regions in an effort to tighten its grip there

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Russian authorities are holding local elections this weekend in occupied parts of Ukraine in an effort to tighten their grip on territories Moscow illegally annexed a year ago and still does not fully control. U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca said the elections “have no legal grounds.” U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood called them ”nothing more than a …

Russia holds elections denounced by Kyiv in occupied Ukrainian regions
1 year, 3 months ago

Russia holds elections denounced by Kyiv in occupied Ukrainian regions

Al Jazeera  

The voting begins in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia and will be finished on Sunday. “For the last nine years, we’ve been striving to get closer with Russia, and Russian politicians are well-known to us,” Sergei, a 47-year-old resident of the occupied city of Luhansk, told The Associated Press news agency, asking that his last name be …

Russia organizes elections in occupied Ukraine to tighten its grip
1 year, 3 months ago

Russia organizes elections in occupied Ukraine to tighten its grip

LA Times  

Russian authorities are holding local elections this weekend in occupied parts of Ukraine in an effort to tighten their grip on territories Moscow illegally annexed a year ago but still does not fully control. Ukrainian officials have urged other countries not to recognize the results of the vote, which the Foreign Ministry called “fake elections.” For Russia, it is important …

Putin imposes martial law on annexed regions of Ukraine
2 years, 2 months ago

Putin imposes martial law on annexed regions of Ukraine

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Vladimir Putin said he is …

Putin declares martial law in annexed regions of Ukraine
2 years, 2 months ago

Putin declares martial law in annexed regions of Ukraine

Al Jazeera  

Russia’s president did not provide details of the extra powers the heads of annexed regions will have under his decree. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, four regions of Ukraine that Russia proclaimed as annexed last month. Putin did not immediately spell out the steps that would be taken under martial law, …

Putin signs annexation of Ukrainian regions as losses mount
2 years, 2 months ago

Putin signs annexation of Ukrainian regions as losses mount

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the final papers Wednesday to annex four regions of Ukraine while his military struggled to control the new territory that was added in violation of international laws. Speaking in a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “certain territories will be reclaimed, and we will keep consulting residents who …

Putin signs laws annexing 4 Ukrainian regions
2 years, 2 months ago

Putin signs laws annexing 4 Ukrainian regions

India Today  

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws absorbing four Ukrainian regions into Russia, a move that finalizes the annexation carried out in defiance of international law. Russia faces mounting setbacks on the battlefield, with Ukrainian forces retaking more and more land in the east and in the south — the very regions Moscow has pushed to annex. On the battlefield …

Russia’s Putin signs laws annexing occupied Ukrainian regions
2 years, 2 months ago

Russia’s Putin signs laws annexing occupied Ukrainian regions

Al Jazeera  

Vladimir Putin formalises a move that Ukraine and its Western allies have condemned as a meaningless ‘sham’. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws to formally absorb four Ukrainian regions into Russia, following referendums in those areas that Kyiv and its Western allies called a meaningless “sham”. “Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed four federal constitutional laws on the entry …

Live Updates: Russia-Ukraine War
2 years, 2 months ago

Live Updates: Russia-Ukraine War

Associated Press  

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, said the director general of Ukraine’s and Europe’s largest power plant, Ihor Murashov, has been released from Russian custody after his detention last week. KEY DEVELOPMENTS: — Ukrainian troops continue offensive, claim new gains — AP Investigation: Russia smuggling Ukrainian grain to help pay for Putin’s war — …

Ukraine war updates: Russia retreats from a key city it just claimed to annex (Oct. 3)
2 years, 2 months ago

Ukraine war updates: Russia retreats from a key city it just claimed to annex (Oct. 3)

NPR  

Ukraine war updates: Russia retreats from a key city it just claimed to annex Enlarge this image toggle caption Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images As the week begins, here's a look ahead and a roundup of key developments from the past week. What happened last week Sept. 26: The first troops called up in Russia's …

Russia poised to annex occupied Ukraine after sham vote
2 years, 2 months ago

Russia poised to annex occupied Ukraine after sham vote

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia positioned itself Wednesday to formally annex parts of Ukraine where occupied areas held a Kremlin-orchestrated “referendum” on living under Moscow’s rule that the Ukrainian government and the West denounced as illegal and rigged. “Regardless of Russia’s claims, this remains Ukrainian territory and Ukraine has every right to continue to fight for their full sovereignty,” said White …

Occupied Ukrainian regions to ask Putin to annex them
2 years, 2 months ago

Occupied Ukrainian regions to ask Putin to annex them

The Hindu  

Russian-installed officials in occupied regions of Ukraine said on September 28 that they would ask President Vladimir Putin to incorporate them into Russia, a day after claiming that their residents overwhelmingly supported such a move in Kremlin-orchestrated votes widely viewed as illegitimate. The referendums asking residents whether they wanted the four occupied southern and eastern Ukraine regions to be incorporated …

Russia prepares to annex parts of Ukraine after referendums reportedly endorse Moscow rule
2 years, 2 months ago

Russia prepares to annex parts of Ukraine after referendums reportedly endorse Moscow rule

ABC  

Russia is poised to formally annex areas of Ukraine where it has military control after referendums there reportedly endorsed Moscow's rule. 'Annexation in the modern world is a crime' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia's attempts to annex Ukrainian territory will mean "there is nothing to talk about with this president of Russia". On Wednesday Ukraine said the Russian-staged votes …

EU slams Russia annexation ‘votes’ in four Ukraine regions
2 years, 2 months ago

EU slams Russia annexation ‘votes’ in four Ukraine regions

Al Jazeera  

Borrell, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, has denounced the ‘referendums’ and their falsified outcome. “ EU denounces holding of illegal ‘referenda’ and their falsified outcome,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Twitter. Kremlin-installed authorities in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia, Russian-controlled regions that together make up about 15 percent of Ukraine’s landmass, claimed victory on Tuesday in …

What happens after Russia’s ’referendums’ in Ukraine?
2 years, 2 months ago

What happens after Russia’s ’referendums’ in Ukraine?

Live Mint  

Referendums held by the Kremlin-installed authorities in four occupied regions of Ukraine entered their final day on Tuesday. Russian parliament's role If the regions vote to be annexed by Russia -- which is a foregone conclusion -- the Russian parliament, the State Duma, will approve a treaty formally incorporating the four regions into Russian territory. Over the weekend, Russian state …

Russian forces have staged illegal ‘referendums’ in Ukraine. What comes next?
2 years, 2 months ago

Russian forces have staged illegal ‘referendums’ in Ukraine. What comes next?

CNN  

CNN — Pro-Russian authorities have held so-called referendums in four regions of Ukraine over recent days and, while the votes are illegal and have been universally dismissed as “a sham” by Ukraine and Western nations, there are fears that they could create a pretext for a new, dangerous stage in the war. That means the “votes” – and the bogus …

Occupied regions of Ukraine vote to join Russia in staged referendums
2 years, 2 months ago

Occupied regions of Ukraine vote to join Russia in staged referendums

NPR  

Occupied regions of Ukraine vote to join Russia in staged referendums Enlarge this image toggle caption AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images KHARKIV AND ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine, and MOSCOW — Four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine appeared to vote overwhelmingly in favor of joining the Russian Federation, according to Russian state media. Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP On …

Ukrainians scared by Russia’s preordained referendums
2 years, 2 months ago

Ukrainians scared by Russia’s preordained referendums

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — After seven months of war, many Ukrainians fear even more suffering and political repression as referendums orchestrated by the Kremlin portend Russia’s imminent annexation of four occupied regions. “The situation is changing rapidly, and people fear that they will be hurt either by the Russian military, or Ukrainian guerrillas and the advancing Ukrainian troops,” Kobernik, 31, said …

Russia is holding referendums to claim more parts of Ukraine. The West says they are illegal shams — here's why
2 years, 3 months ago

Russia is holding referendums to claim more parts of Ukraine. The West says they are illegal shams — here's why

ABC  

Residents in four occupied regions of Ukraine are being pressured by their Russian-backed officials to vote in a self-styled referendum to classify parts of the country as Russian territory. Voting is taking place in self-styled Donetsk and the Luhansk People's Republics, which Mr Putin recognised as independent just before the invasion, and Russian-controlled areas of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions …

Russians strike Ukraine as Kremlin-staged votes continue
2 years, 3 months ago

Russians strike Ukraine as Kremlin-staged votes continue

The Hindu  

Russian forces launched new strikes on Ukrainian cities on September 24 as Kremlin-orchestrated votes continued in occupied regions of Ukraine to pave the way for their annexation by Moscow. “As Russian commanders become increasingly concerned about their operational setbacks, they are probably attempting to strike the sluice gates of dams, in order to flood Ukrainian military crossing points.” Amid the …

Russia holds votes in 4 occupied regions of Ukraine, Kyiv says residents coerced
2 years, 3 months ago

Russia holds votes in 4 occupied regions of Ukraine, Kyiv says residents coerced

India Today  

Russia launched referendums on Friday aimed at annexing four occupied regions of Ukraine, drawing condemnation from Kyiv and Western nations who dismissed the votes as a sham and pledged not to recognise their results. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a nightly address that the votes would be "unequivocally condemned" by the world, along with the mobilisation Russia began this …

Russia holds breakaway polls in Ukraine
2 years, 3 months ago

Russia holds breakaway polls in Ukraine

The Hindu  

Moscow-held regions of Ukraine were voting Friday on whether to become part of Russia, in referendums that Kyiv and its allies have condemned as an unlawful land grab. Denis Pushilin, a pro-Russian separatist leader in the Donetsk region — which makes up part of the industrial Donbass region — said in a Telegram post that "Donbas is Russia". In Donetsk …

Unlawful Land Grab: Russia Holds Breakaway Referendum Polls in Four Regions of Ukraine
2 years, 3 months ago

Unlawful Land Grab: Russia Holds Breakaway Referendum Polls in Four Regions of Ukraine

News 18  

Moscow-held regions of Ukraine began voting Friday on whether to become part of Russia, in referendums that Kyiv and its allies have condemned as an unlawful land grab. ‘A farce’ In the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions — already recognised as independent by Putin right before he launched the invasion in February — residents are answering if they support their …

Russia’s annexation referendums start in occupied Ukraine, say agencies
2 years, 3 months ago

Russia’s annexation referendums start in occupied Ukraine, say agencies

The Hindu  

Referendums on Russia’s annexation began on September 23, 2022 in Ukrainian territory controlled by Moscow, Russian news agencies reported, in what Kyiv and the West have denounced as a “sham” vote. Earlier, Moscow-held regions of Ukraine begin voting on whether to become part of Russia, in referendums that Kyiv and its allies have condemned as an unlawful land grab. "We …

4 Ukraine regions prepare to hold referendums to join Russia
2 years, 3 months ago

4 Ukraine regions prepare to hold referendums to join Russia

India Today  

Four areas of Ukraine controlled by Russia and pro-Moscow forces were preparing to hold referendums on Friday on joining Russia, a move widely condemned by the West as illegitimate and a precursor to illegal annexation. "If this is all declared Russia territory, they can declare that this is a direct attack on Russia so they can fight without any reservations," …

Four occupied Ukraine regions begin vote on joining Russia
2 years, 3 months ago

Four occupied Ukraine regions begin vote on joining Russia

Al Jazeera  

Referendums will continue until Tuesday and are seen as paving the way for Moscow’s annexation of the territories and an escalation of the war. “If this is all declared Russia territory, they can declare that this is a direct attack on Russia so they can fight without any reservations,” Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haidai told Ukrainian TV. I’m afraid I …

Will Moscow-held regions of Ukraine become part of Russia? Referendum begins
2 years, 3 months ago

Will Moscow-held regions of Ukraine become part of Russia? Referendum begins

India TV News  

Highlights The separatist regions of Ukraine started voting on referendum to join Russia. Russia Ukraine news: The separatist or Moscow-held regions of Ukraine on Friday started voting on the referendum to join Russia. The development came two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military mobilization of Russian citizens. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine had earlier declared …

Russia begins annexation vote, illegal under international law, in occupied Ukraine
2 years, 3 months ago

Russia begins annexation vote, illegal under international law, in occupied Ukraine

NPR  

Russia begins annexation vote, illegal under international law, in occupied Ukraine Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — A long line of cars pulls into the parking lot of a home goods store set up as a makeshift welcome center. Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR Controversial Russian referendums have begun in …

EXPLAINER: What’s behind referendums in occupied Ukraine?
2 years, 3 months ago

EXPLAINER: What’s behind referendums in occupied Ukraine?

Associated Press  

Four occupied regions in Ukraine are set to start voting Friday in Kremlin-engineered referendums on whether to become part of Russia, setting the stage for Moscow to annex the areas in a sharp escalation of the nearly seven-month war. On Tuesday, authorities in the separatist Luhansk and Donetsk regions that make up Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas …

Mapping the occupied Ukraine regions Russia is formally annexing
2 years, 3 months ago

Mapping the occupied Ukraine regions Russia is formally annexing

Al Jazeera  

President Vladimir Putin announces incorporation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia into Russia after referendums slammed by Kyiv and the West as illegal. The move on Friday came days after voters in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia overwhelmingly backed their provinces joining Russia, according to referendums rejected by the government in Kyiv and its Western allies as meaningless and illegal. …

4 Ukrainian regions schedule votes this week to join Russia
2 years, 3 months ago

4 Ukrainian regions schedule votes this week to join Russia

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian-controlled regions of eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans Tuesday to start voting this week to become integral parts of Russia. “It’s an act of desperation for Russia, but it is not going to help them.” U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States would “never recognize this territory as anything other than part of …

4 Ukrainian separatist regions plan votes to join Russia
2 years, 3 months ago

4 Ukrainian separatist regions plan votes to join Russia

The Hindu  

The separatist leaders of four Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine said on Tuesday they were planning to hold votes starting later this week for the territories to become part of Russia as Moscow loses ground in the war it launched. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also said that folding Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine into Russia itself would make their …

Four Ukrainian separatist regions plan votes to join Russia
2 years, 3 months ago

Four Ukrainian separatist regions plan votes to join Russia

India TV News  

Russia-Ukraine war: Russian-controlled regions of eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans Tuesday to start voting this week to become integral parts of Russia. Former President Dmitry Medvedev said folding regions into Russia itself would make redrawn frontiers "irreversible" and enable Moscow to use "any means" to defend them. Pressure within Russia and from Moscow-backed leaders in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine …

Referendums? Annexation? Fate of Russian-occupied Ukrainian lands remains unclear
2 years, 4 months ago

Referendums? Annexation? Fate of Russian-occupied Ukrainian lands remains unclear

LA Times  

Residents in Russia-occupied Mariupol, in southern Ukraine, gather to receive water distributed by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry. Several weeks in, separatist leaders of the self-proclaimed “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk, which the Kremlin recognized as independent states, voiced plans to hold votes on becoming part of Russia. Pro-Russian officials in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia say the votes will take …

What will ‘referendums’ in occupied Ukraine regions look like?
2 years, 4 months ago

What will ‘referendums’ in occupied Ukraine regions look like?

Al Jazeera  

Russian-appointed officials say they are planning such processes, but observers say they will lack legitimacy. “They brought ‘film extras’ from other temporarily-occupied areas to Melitopol – 700 people – because they couldn’t even find that many among locals,” Fyodorov, who fled the city after it was occupied in early March, wrote on Telegram on Tuesday, using a term that has …

Vladimir Putin to scrap local elections as economic sanctions bite
2 years, 7 months ago

Vladimir Putin to scrap local elections as economic sanctions bite

The Telegraph  

Vladimir Putin is widely expected on Wednesday to scrap key governors’ elections in Russia set for this autumn because of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, according to local media reports. Violating Russian constitution The Vladimir region, just north-east of Moscow, could be the first Russian province to see this happen, with the local parliament due to vote this …

Russia plans a ‘Korean scenario’ for Ukraine: Intelligence chief
2 years, 8 months ago

Russia plans a ‘Korean scenario’ for Ukraine: Intelligence chief

Al Jazeera  

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief says Russia will try to divide Ukraine into two separate regions as the Russian advance on Kyiv stalls. Russia is considering “a Korean scenario” for Ukraine and splitting the country in two after failing to seize the capital Kyiv and overthrow its government, the Ukrainian military intelligence chief has said. “The occupiers will try to unite …

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