Russia holds elections in Ukraine despite global condemnations

Ignoring condemnations from the Ukrainian and Western governments, the Russian government opened voting polls on Sept. 18 at its diplomatic institutions in Ukraine, as well as throughout the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula. Protests were held at the Russian Embassy in Ukraine in Kyiv and Russian consulate in Odesa, organized by nationalist forces. The protest in Kyiv involved fireworks aimed at the embassy on the eve of the vote. On election day in Kyiv, a Russian voter was beaten by protesters, prompting several arrests. In Odesa, nationalists scuffled with police and blocked the consulate entrance, resulting in arrests.

As of this morning, the Russian government had yet to report turnout figures for Ukraine. The vote was boycotted by the Crimean Tatar population, which is being politically persecuted by the Kremlin. Crimean Tatars account for about 10 percent of the local population.

On the eve of elections, Ukrainian President Poroshenko threatened sanctions against those participating in the Russian parliamentary elections, including candidates and officials, which was later ridiculed by the lead Crimean prosecutor. After the elections, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry declared the elections place the legitimacy of the entire Russian parliament under doubt. Weeks earlier, the Ukrainian government said it would not recognize the Russian parliamentary elections because of mandates issued for Crimea, a call that was supported by Western governments, including the U.S.

Zenon Zawada: Ever since the war of Russian aggression in Donbas began in April 2014, it has been speculated on when and if the Ukrainian government will decide to cut diplomatic relations altogether. The decision by Russia to hold these elections in defiance of the Western world would have been as good a reason as any, let alone the covert military operations being conducted. So if we don’t hear such an announcement from the Ukrainian government today, that’s not likely to happen in the future. Instead, some diplomatic evictions or persona non grata declarations could occur.

We believe that part of Russia’s confident defiance is based in the hope that the U.S. presidential election will turn out in Russia’s favor, with the election of Donald Trump.