Why russia is preparing “international observers” for the ‘elections’ in the TOT
russian foreign minister sergey lavrov has stated that his ministry will ensure “fair international observation” during the state duma elections scheduled for September 2026 in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Crimea, as well as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
▫️ In reality, any elections held in occupied territories are illegitimate. Ukraine and the international community do not recognize their results.
▫️ Claims about “international observers” are equally fictitious. Reputable international organizations engaged in election monitoring have long since ceased cooperation with russia. The “observers” showcased by the kremlin in the temporarily occupied territories are fully loyal to the russian federation and serve exclusively a propaganda function.
It is worth noting that during the pseudo-referendums in the occupied territories, such “observers” likewise reported no violations, despite the fact that voting effectively took place at gunpoint. The purpose of this spectacle is to create an illusion of legitimacy around electoral processes conducted by russia in the seized Ukrainian territories.
