Illegitimacy without borders: russia’s state duma “elections” in Transnistria
russia has set up polling stations in the russian-controlled Transnistrian region in defiance of Moldova’s official position and direct ban.
▫️ Moldova’s Foreign Ministry summoned the russian ambassador and handed him a note of protest. Chișinău authorized the opening of only one polling station at the russian embassy, while moscow is unilaterally planning to open 16 additional polling stations on the left bank of the Dniester.
▫️ This blatant disregard for Moldova’s sovereignty clearly demonstrates that russia is not even trying to pretend that its “elections” comply with international law.
The situation with the unauthorized polling stations in Transnistria is yet another confirmation that russia’s September state duma “elections” are nothing more than a farce and a simulation of democratic processes. The kremlin uses both occupied Ukrainian territories and territories of foreign states under its control to artificially inflate voter turnout and support for the kremlin regime.
