UN Condemns Russia On Plans To Hold Presidential Elections In Democratic Ukrainian Territory

The election atmosphere in Donetsk City. Russian authorities held simultaneous elections in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson on September 8-10, 2023. (ANTARA/HO-Fauzan Al-Rasyid)

JAKARTA - Russia will hold presidential elections from March 15-17, the first presidential election to last three days in the country's history, in which President Vladimir Putin will run for a fifth term.

A United Nations (UN) official on Friday strongly condemned plans for a Russian presidential election in Ukrainian territory under Moscow's control.

"The principle of respect for the territorial integrity and political independence of a country is the basis of our collective security," UN Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peace DevelopmentORD DiCarlo said at a UN Security Council meeting discussing Ukraine.

"Every annexation of a country's territory by another country due to threats or the use of violence violates the principles of the UN Charter and international law," said DiCarlo, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, March 16.

Describe the Russian elections planned for March 15-17 as "unacceptable," DiCarlo said Moscow should enforce Ukrainian law in occupied territories.

"When this war has entered its third year, peace has not yet been reached," he added.

The war between Russia-Ukraine entered its third year in late February and has killed at least 10,500 civilians and injured more than 19,800 others, according to UN calculations.