On Russia’s undemocratic presidential elections and their illegitimate extension to the occupied territories
B-9-2024-0256
on behalf of the Renew Group · Rapporteur: Bernard Guetta, José Ramón Bauzá Díaz, VladMarius Botoş, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Vlad Gheorghe, Klemen Grošelj, Michael Kauch, Nathalie Loiseau, Karen Melchior, Urmas Paet, Ramona Strugariu, Hilde Vautmans
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Parliament condemns Russia's 15-17 March 2024 presidential elections as neither free nor fair, lacking democratic legitimacy, and rejects their extension to occupied Ukrainian territories.¶¶ It denounces human rights abuses, calls for release of political prisoners and journalists, and urges EU support for Russian civil society and democratic opposition.¶¶¶
Key points
- Considers the March 2024 Russian presidential elections neither free nor fair, lacking democratic legitimacy, and therefore Vladimir Putin should not be considered legitimate.¶
- Strongly condemns holding elections in occupied Ukrainian territories, declaring non-recognition and violation of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty.¶
- Reiterates support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders.¶
- Condemns undemocratic practices and suppression of dissent, including widespread irregularities and lack of genuine competition in the elections.¶
- Denounces escalation of human rights violations and crackdown on critics, human rights defenders, anti-war activists, independent journalists and LGBTIQ activists.¶
- Calls for immediate release and compensation of all political prisoners and unjustly imprisoned journalists, and for restoration of freedom of expression and association in Russia.¶
- Urges Russian authorities to provide medical care for political prisoners in critical health, grant consular access to dual citizens, and adhere to international obligations.
- Calls on EU and Member States to support political prisoners with medical and legal assistance, raise awareness, and pressure Russia to uphold international obligations.
- Expresses solidarity with Russians striving for democracy, including those who protested on 17 March 2024, and supports independent civil society and media.¶
- Observes negative consequences of military economy on health, social security, infrastructure, and lives of ordinary Russians, provoking discontent suppressed by repression.¶
- Calls for EU support to Russian civil society, independent media, human rights defenders, and democratic opposition opposing the war; regrets Orbán's congratulations to Putin.¶
- Urges Member States to provide humanitarian visas and support to Russian dissidents at risk, and reiterates call for monitoring of court proceedings and prison conditions.¶
Who is affected
- Russian authorities: condemned for undemocratic elections, human rights abuses, and urged to release prisoners and provide medical care.¶¶¶
- Political prisoners and journalists in Russia: called for their release and compensation, and for medical and legal assistance.¶
- Russian civil society, independent media, and democratic opposition: EU support urged.¶¶
- Russian dissidents at risk: Member States urged to provide humanitarian visas and support.¶
- EU and Member States: called to support prisoners, monitor trials, and pressure Russia.¶¶