Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry is urging other countries and international organizations not to recognize the results of Russia’s recent presidential election, as well as Vladimir Putin’s legitimacy ahead of the inauguration. The ministry stated that there are no legal grounds for recognizing Putin as the democratically elected and legitimate president of Russia. Evidence shows that the March 15-17 presidential election, in which Putin allegedly won with 87% support, was the most rigged in Russia’s modern history. Estimates of vote rigging range from at least 22 million votes to about 31.6 million votes, excluding online voting and elections held at gunpoint in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
In addition to the vote rigging, Russia is accused of violating international law by organizing voting in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson oblasts, and Crimea. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stated that Russia’s actions demonstrate a disregard for international law and continue the illegal armed aggression against Ukraine. Moscow’s actions also violated provisions of various international documents, including the Charter of the United Nations. The ministry emphasized that there are no legal grounds for recognizing Putin as the democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation, especially considering an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Putin.
The Russian presidential election has been widely criticized by Western countries, with some planning to boycott the inauguration scheduled to be held in Moscow on May 7. The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Putin’s March election as illegitimate. The evidence suggesting massive vote rigging in the election has raised concerns about the lack of fairness and transparency in the electoral process. Despite Putin’s overwhelming victory, the legitimacy of the election remains in question, leading to hesitance from some countries to recognize his presidency.
The Ukrainian government’s call for non-recognition of Putin’s election victory aligns with the stance of many Western countries that have already expressed skepticism about the validity of the Russian election. The refusal to recognize Putin’s legitimacy as president of Russia reflects the broader international concern over Russia’s actions in Ukraine and other areas. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, coupled with the allegations of vote rigging in the presidential election, has further strained relations between Russia and the international community.
As Ukraine continues to push for non-recognition of Putin’s presidency, the country seeks support from other nations and organizations in condemning the actions of the Russian government. The call for solidarity in not recognizing Putin as the democratically elected and legitimate president of Russia highlights Ukraine’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and international law. By taking a firm stance against the alleged vote rigging and violations of international law, Ukraine sends a strong message to the world about the importance of fair and transparent elections in maintaining a democratic society.
