In light of the Russian presidential elections set to take place this weekend, on Thursday, 14 March, the Saeima adopted a Statement categorically condemning the holding of the elections in the temporarily occupied and illegally annexed territories of Ukraine. According to Members of the Saeima, such actions carried out by Russia within the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine are illegal, and the results of the elections will not be recognised.

In the Statement, the Saeima strongly condemns Russia's imperialist actions and ongoing aggression against Ukraine and demands that the Russian government cease subjecting political prisoners to any form of torture, respect the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment, withdraw all unfounded charges, and immediately and unconditionally release all politically motivated prisoners.

Members of the Saeima reiterate that the European Union, its Member States, and allies worldwide must continue to provide Ukraine with comprehensive support, including political, economic, financial, and military assistance, as well as support for civil society and the reconstruction of the country.

The parliamentarians stand in solidarity with Ukraine in its efforts to defend its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

According to the Statement, MPs consider that the presidential elections in Russia will be neither free nor fair due to the suppression of opposition and independent media and the absence of credible political competition and independent international observers, thus depriving the elections of any democratic legitimacy.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has significantly intensified its repression of political dissent, the media, and civil liberties, ruthlessly stifling all opposition and criminalising all anti-war expression, the Saeima underlines in the Statement. MPs emphasise that Russia is currently governed by an authoritarian regime and recall that the Russian government bears responsibility for severe human rights violations and political repression, including the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Saeima Press Service