The re-election of Vladimir Putin to the Russian presidency is based on “repression and intimidation”, declared Monday in Brussels the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.
The presidential election in Russia “was not a free and fair vote”, it was “based on repression and intimidation”, underlined Mr Borrell, shortly before a meeting of foreign ministers of the EU.
The presidential election in Russia, in which Vladimir Putin was re-elected with 87.29% of the vote, “took place against a backdrop of severe restrictions, exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against “Ukraine”, underlined Mr. Borrell, in a statement on behalf of the European Union, published Monday morning.
“Russian authorities have continued to increase systematic repression” in Russia, targeting the opposition, civil society, independent media and “and other critical voices using repressive legislation and to prison sentences decided for political reasons”, further denounces the EU in this declaration.
The European Union also emphasizes that it will not recognize the result of the “illegal” elections that took place in the Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine. “They are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect,” believe the Twenty-Seven.
The master of the Kremlin, in power for almost a quarter of a century, saw his score jump 10 points compared to 2018. The official results must be announced on Thursday.
This article is originally published on tvanouvelles.ca
