The Kremlin is trying to hold pseudo-elections in the captured Ukrainian territories. The goal of this fake show of will is the political integration of the occupied territory into the space of Russia. “Elections” are announced for September 8-10, when in Russia there is a “single day of voting” – citizens of the aggressor country elect local authorities for three consecutive days. However, since September 1, the so-called “excursion commissions” accompanied by armed Russian military personnel began to patrol the homeowner’s yard and force people to vote.
The “election process” in the occupied territories is accompanied by the use of Ukrainian children in the “election campaign”, the forced involvement of public sector employees, the use of funds from the Russian budget in the interests of pro-government candidates, and the distribution of food packages, which looks quite pitiful against the background of the plight of the local population.
At the same time, pseudo-elections in the occupied territories are illegal, legally void and contrary to the norms of international and Ukrainian law. The very fact of their holding, regardless of the results, will not be recognized by Ukraine or the world. Moreover, since our state aims to liberate the temporarily occupied territories, these “elections” do not change anything for Ukraine.
“Election” campaign as a tool of war propaganda
On the “single voting day” from September 8 to 10, 2023, election campaigns of various levels will be held in Russia, including by-elections of State Duma deputies, heads of federation subjects, deputies of legislative bodies and municipal associations. In addition, the Russians plan to hold pseudo-elections to 79 occupied municipal associations and “legislative bodies” of parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions, as well as “by-elections” to the State Duma in occupied Crimea.
However, elections in Russia, even if the occupied territories are not taken into account, have nothing to do with the democratic process. For the authoritarian Kremlin regime, the institution of elections has turned into a formality necessary to preserve power and create its positive image as a “liberal structure.”
Even Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted that presidential elections in Russia are not a democratic process, but an “expensive bureaucracy.” However, the current election campaign is completely imbued with propaganda surrounding the “special military operation” and making heroes of its participants.
Each party and its local branch consider it their sacred duty to send humanitarian aid to fighters or citizens in the occupied territory or to collect funds for military items. Thus, the party ” A Just Russia – Patriots – For the Truth” (SRPZ) published the headquarters’ addresses for receiving humanitarian aid, and organized the collection of donations through a mobile text number to help the residents of Donbass.
The delivery of field kitchens, walkie-talkies, scopes, medicines, wood, cars, and trench candles to the occupied territories became a key element in the pre-election activities of the parties.
Even simulating election procedures, Russian politicians failed to offer their electorate the essential substance of the campaign, but only used the topic of war — they held car races in support of “SVO”, events dedicated to the memory of the victims of the war in Donbas, awarded fighters and helped their families. Also, Russian politicians solved the household issues of soldiers’ relatives – for example, they helped to install gas to the home of the “SVO” member’s mother or facilitated treatment.
The parties distribute branded packages of food to soldiers who became disabled due to the imperialist wishes of the Kremlin, help them enter universities, protect their right to work, and take patronage over the families of war participants.
Dmytro Bashtovyj
Опора
