Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stated on Sept. 10 that if State Duma elections are held in Crimea on Sept. 18, they will not allow Russian citizens living in Ukraine to vote in the country's Russian embassies. Ukraine has also requested that Russia exclude Crimean candidates from the federal register.
On Sept. 12, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow would not accept Ukraine's ultimatum “under any circumstances.” In addition, the head of Russia's Central Electoral Commission, Ella Pamfilova, warned that the situation “could backfire on Ukraine in an unexpected way.”
This will be the first time that the annexed peninsula will participate in the State Duma elections.
The United Russia party has put Svetlana Savchenko forward as a candidate on the peninsula — a woman who shares her surname with formerly imprisoned military pilot Nadiya Savchenko – as a candidate under the slogan “our Crimean
Savchenko.”
Ukraine's retaliation has been branded
as “ridiculous” in a post on the website of Russia's Foreign Ministry.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
