Ukraine warns CIS mission members against visiting temporarily occupied territories while monitoring future elections in the Russian Federation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns members of the Commonwealth of Independent States mission against visiting the temporarily occupied territories while monitoring the upcoming elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to UNN. 

"In connection with the commencement of the work of the observer mission from the Commonwealth of Independent States to monitor the upcoming elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine warns members of the mission against visiting the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and participating in observing the illegally organized voting there," the statement said. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Russian Federation's extension of the electoral process to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine constitutes another gross violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and of the norms of international law. 

"The organization by Russia of any voting on the sovereign territory of Ukraine is illegal, and the results of such voting are null and void and create no legal consequences. The presence of foreign observers does not change the illegal nature of such voting and cannot constitute grounds for recognizing its results," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.

The ministry also added that Russia is attempting to use the international presence in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to recognize the results of the illegally organized electoral process, the occupation, and the attempted annexation of Ukrainian territories.

"Ukraine calls on the CIS member states to strictly observe the norms of international law, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, refrain from any actions that the Russian Federation may use to legitimize the occupation, and not recognize any results of the illegal voting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. 

As a reminder 

Russia plans to hold illegal elections to the State Duma in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The Kremlin wants to ensure turnout there of more than 65–70% and at least 70% of the votes for "United Russia" in order to use the results to legitimize the occupation.