PACE did not recognize the new State Duma of the Russian Federation as a legitimate representative body

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has stated that the new State Duma of the Russian Federation cannot be considered a democratically elected and legitimate representative body. The PACE paid special attention to the conduct of the so-called vote by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The issue of the Russian “elections” was considered during the autumn session of the PACE in Strasbourg within the framework of an urgent procedure. The official materials of the Assembly emphasize that the electoral process in Russia did not meet international democratic standards.

What the PACE stated

The Assembly questioned the legitimacy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation formed as a result of the vote due to the conditions in which the electoral process took place.

Even before the vote, the PACE Platform for Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces stated that such “elections” cannot be considered a genuine expression of the will of Russian citizens, and the formed parliament as their legitimate democratic representative.

A separate issue is “elections” in the occupied territories of Ukraine

The PACE paid special attention to the organization of voting by Russia in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

The Assembly emphasized that the holding of any vote on the TOT by the Russian Federation violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the norms of international law. The occupation is temporary in nature and does not transfer sovereignty over the occupied territory to the occupying state.

The PACE also condemned the practice of forcing Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territories to participate in Russian electoral processes. The Assembly has previously noted that such actions by the Russian Federation contradict fundamental principles of international law and further undermine the legitimacy of such votes.

PACE calls for further isolation

The materials on the Russian “elections” also raise the issue of the international reaction to Moscow’s actions, in particular the non-recognition of the results of the vote in the occupied territories and the responsibility of those involved in its organization.

PACE consistently views Russia’s interference in democratic and electoral processes as a threat to the democratic security of Europe. The Assembly has previously called on European states to strengthen the protection of electoral processes from external interference, disinformation and other hybrid threats.

Separately, PACE emphasizes the need to continue supporting Ukraine and holding Russia accountable for violations of international law.

The Russian parliamentary “elections” on September 18–20, 2026, were the first since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia organized voting, in particular, in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, which Kyiv does not recognize.