Skip to content
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2026/2907(RSP))

On the 2026 undemocratic elections to the Russian State Duma and their implications for civil society

B-10-2026-0449

on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Adam Bielan, Rihards Kols, Alexandr Vondra, Michał Dworczyk, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Tobiasz Bocheński, Maciej Wąsik, Mariusz Kamiński, Aurelijus Veryga, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Bogdan Rzońca, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Marlena Maląg, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Roberts Zīle, Charlie Weimers, Beatrice Timgren, Dick Erixon, Nikola Bartůšek, Waldemar Buda, Jaak Madison, Ivaylo Valchev, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Geadis Geadi

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 10 Oct 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's resolution says the 2026 State Duma elections held on 18–20 September were not democratic and that their results are illegitimate. It calls on the EU and member states to avoid official contact with the new Duma and to sanction those responsible. It condemns voting staged in occupied Ukrainian territories, in Moldova's Transnistrian region and in Georgia's Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions, and reaffirms support for Ukraine's, Moldova's and Georgia's territorial integrity. It condemns the exclusion of the opposition party Yabloko, the blocking of OSCE observers, the coercion of voters and the repression of journalists, civil society and anti-war activists, and demands the release of those imprisoned. It asks member states to strengthen defence capabilities, to treat Russian embassy and border-crossing voting activity as part of Russia's operations toolbox, and to use universal jurisdiction against deputies suspected of war crimes.

Key points

  1. Parliament does not recognise the legitimacy of the State Duma elections or their announced results, calling them a plebiscite and a façade used for propaganda.
  2. It calls on the EU institutions and member states to refrain from official contact with the new State Duma and its members and to oppose their participation in interparliamentary assemblies.
  3. It says any act of this Duma purporting to legislate for, annex or ratify the status of occupied Ukrainian territory should be considered null.
  4. It condemns the coercion of voters, including state employees and military personnel, intimidation at polling stations and the exclusion of observers, including some 250 Yabloko-nominated observers in St Petersburg.
  5. It condemns Russia's blocking of ODIHR and OSCE election monitoring missions.
  6. It condemns the staged electoral process in Crimea and the temporarily occupied parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, including forced participation and forced passportisation of Ukrainian citizens.
  7. It rejects voting organised in Moldova's Transnistrian region and in Georgia's Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions, and reaffirms support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and Georgia.
  8. It calls for targeted restrictive measures and Schengen-wide entry bans on electoral officials, judges, prosecutors, occupation authorities, election commission members and newly elected Duma deputies not yet listed, especially those who served in the invasion forces or occupation administrations.
  9. It calls on member states to use universal jurisdiction against State Duma deputies suspected of war crimes, including Nursultan Mussagaleev, and says a parliamentary mandate gives no immunity from prosecution.
  10. It calls on member states to strengthen defence capabilities and military readiness against potential Russian aggression, and notes Russian sabotage, cyberattacks and attacks on critical infrastructure on EU territory.
  11. It calls on member states to treat Russian embassy and border-crossing voting activity as part of Russia's operations toolbox, to restrict it, and to apply strict residence and security screening to participants where national law allows.
  12. It calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals imprisoned in Russia for exercising freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association or political participation, and for politically motivated charges to be dropped.

Who is affected

  • The newly constituted Russian State Duma and its members: no official EU contact, possible sanctions and entry bans.
  • Russian electoral officials, judges, prosecutors and occupation authorities: targeted restrictive measures and Schengen-wide entry bans.
  • State Duma deputies suspected of war crimes: member states are asked to use universal jurisdiction.
  • Russian citizens resident in the EU: member states are asked to restrict Kremlin-organised voting activity and screen participants.
  • Individuals imprisoned in Russia for expression, assembly, association or political participation: release is demanded.

Figures and deadlines

  • 18–20 September 2026: dates of the State Duma elections.
  • 10 political parties: total on the ballot, the fewest in State Duma election history.
  • More than 70 participants reportedly detained at the Yabloko protest outside the Supreme Court in Moscow.
  • 11 years and one month: prison sentence given to Yabloko deputy chair Lev Shlosberg.
  • 10 Russian officials: restrictive measures imposed by the Council on 28 September 2026 over the exclusion of Yabloko.
  • 46 individuals in the new State Duma who served in the invasion forces or occupation administrations, more than 10 % of members.
  • Between 14 and 25 million votes for United Russia estimated as fabricated; actual turnout below 40 % rather than the official 59.8 %; United Russia's real support around 37 % rather than the official 58 %.
  • Some 250 Yabloko-nominated observers excluded in St Petersburg alone.