British Intel: Occupation authorities force Ukrainians into sham Russian presidential vote
Russian occupying authorities increase their push for residents to vote in presidential election polls. In Luhansk, 2,600 Russian officials have been tasked with visiting homes and pressuring residents to participate in the Kremlin's illegal voting exercise.
Russian occupation regime increased its efforts to force Ukrainians on occupied territories to vote in the Russian presidential elections, the UK Defense Ministry reported on 14 March.
The voting in the 15-17 March 2024 Russian presidential elections reportedly started early across the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
Russian elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine are illegal and invalid. The so-called elections are another tool for conquering invaded territories.
In Luhansk, 2,600 officials have been drafted to visit homes and persuade residents to vote, according to the UK Defense Ministry report. Heads of educational and other government establishments have been instructed “to ensure their subordinates turn out to vote.”
With no independent election observers present and voter lists in at least one town absent, “the potential for falsification of results is increased,” the report states. Moreover, “with significant population displacement and migration from these areas due to the ongoing conflict, it is likely that only approximately a third of the pre-war population remains.”
According to the UK Defense Ministry, Russia has no legitimate basis for holding elections on the territory of Ukraine. It said, “The credibility of the elections is undermined further by a lack of proper representation, poor security, and coercive measures to pressure the population to vote.”
“It is highly likely the occupation authorities in these territories will claim a high turnout with overwhelming support for Putin irrespective of what actually happens, to give the impression that a democratic choice has been made,” the British Defense Ministry reported.
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