Fictitious "elections" in the territories occupied by Russia. "Putin will not redraw the map as he likes"

The West will not recognize the results of the pseudo-elections in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. "Putin will not redraw the map as he likes" said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Treudeau.
Local elections are held from Friday to Sunday in Russia and the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. In Kherson Oblast, “voting” began on September 2.

British intelligence indicated a few days ago that, according to Kremlin polls, Putin's United Russia party will win 80 percent of votes in four occupied regions of Ukraine.

"United Russia is likely to hold a majority of seats in an attempt to secure the Kremlin's power and influence in occupied regions," the British pointed out.

Pseudo-elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine

The U.S. Department of State said in a statement that the United States "will never recognize the claims of the Russian Federation to the sovereign territory of Ukraine." “We would like to remind all people who may support Russia's fictitious elections in Ukraine, including by acting as the so-called "international observers" that they may be subject to sanctions and visa restrictions," the Americans warned.

Canada will not recognize the results of the “shame elections”. "These mock elections constitute a serious violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations... Putin will not redraw the map as he likes, and Ukrainian territory will remain Ukrainian territory," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Forced to vote at gunpoint

On September 10, elections to regional parliaments as well as to municipal and district councils are being held throughout Russia. But in parts of the four Ukrainian regions currently occupied by Russia, "elections" are taking place over a longer period. On the frontline, "mobile election commissions" reportedly started visiting private households on August 31.

SBU spokesman Artem Dekhtyarenko told DW that people had been told to "cast their votes" in the presence of armed representatives of the occupation police force. 

Dekhtyarenko said that the Kremlin had ordered its representatives to ensure there was maximum voter turnout in order to create the appearance of an "electoral process." He said that in Berdyansk, for example, "the Russian invaders and their henchmen are forcing the head doctors of medical institutions to order their staff to participate in the sham elections." He urged Ukrainians not to participate in the "fake referendum" and not to do anything that could help the "aggressor."   

Attacks on buildings related to elections

The SBU has vowed to do everything in its power to hold to account all those responsible for the illegal elections. Moreover, those who participate in the votes face other risks than criminal prosecution: On August 29, the Nova Kakhovka headquarters of Russia's ruling United Russia party came under attack and the next day, several Ukrainian media outlets, citing SBU sources, reported a drone attack on a "polling station" in the town of Kamyanka-Dniprovska in the Zaporizhzhia region.