As Russia conducted parliamentary and gubernatorial elections on the 8th of September, the disputed territories of Crimea and Sevastopol also conducted local and regional elections. However, the European Union (EU) has issued a statement declaring that it does not recognise the validity of elections in these territories.

The statement reads:

Local and regional elections were held in the Russian Federation on 8 September and in the Crimean peninsula. The European Union does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, and continues to condemn this violation of international law. Therefore, the European Union does not recognise the holding of elections in the Crimean peninsula. Anybody elected in the Crimean peninsula claiming to “represent” the populations of Crimea and Sevastopol will not be recognised as representatives of those territories, which are Ukrainian.

The European Union remains unwavering in its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Ukraine also condemned the elections, stating: “The results of this illegal vote are legally void, will have no legal consequences, and will not be recognized by Ukraine or the international community.”

The official Twitter account of Ukraine’s MFA shared tweets from other European countries stating their inability to recognise the authority of the elections and reaffirming their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated since the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine and subsequent annexation of Crimea. Many had hoped that the high profile prisoner swap between the two countries a day before the vote would improve their relations.