The president of the House of Representatives, or Federation Council, Valentina Matviejenko, said last week that the presidential elections to be held in three days from March 15 will “signify the completion of the reunification of the regions” with Russia.
Moscow’s ability to hold elections in what it calls its “new territories” is politically important for the Kremlin. But it poses logistical and security challenges because Russian forces only partially control the four regions. The front line in the war between Russia and Ukraine runs through the regions.
The announcement is met with strong resistance from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ukraine declares that any voting in these areas would be “illegal and pointless” and a blatant violation of established norms and principles of international law.
President Vladimir Putin is running for re-election. He has been in power since late 1999 and opposition to government policies has been suppressed. For example, there is no known candidate who could compete against Putin at the ballot box. The Russians will elect the president in March for a six-year term.
LOOK. This is how Putin announced his candidacy