The Council called on the world to condemn Russia’s holding of pseudo-elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine

The Verkhovna Rada adopted Resolution No. 16077, which appealed to foreign states and international organizations to condemn Russia’s intentions to hold elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. 264 people’s deputies voted for the document.

This concerns the planned voting on September 18-20, 2026 in the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, as well as in Crimea and Sevastopol.

The Rada stated a violation of international law

The explanatory note to the resolution notes that Russia’s holding of such elections in the occupied Ukrainian territories violates basic international documents.

In particular, it refers to the UN Charter, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, the Helsinki Final Act and resolutions of the UN General Assembly, which confirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

The resolution also states that Ukraine will not recognize the results of the vote held by Russia in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. The document notes that such results will have no legal force.

The elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation are due to begin on September 18. The vote is planned to be held, in particular, in the occupied territories of Ukraine.