Regional

Russian Presidential Election Controversy in Moldova's Transnistria Region

In the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, the election for the President of the Russian Federation is taking place today.

According to the press from the left bank of the Dniester, six polling stations have been opened.

These stations were opened at 8:00 AM and will close at 8:00 PM. This is happening without the agreement of the constitutional authorities, who allowed only one polling station to be opened on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Chisinau. The refusal of the Russian authorities to comply with Chisinau's position has been deemed unacceptable by the authorities.

According to a report by Promo-LEX, the decision to open polling stations on the territory of the Transnistrian region, despite the protest of Moldovan authorities, completes the extensive register of abuses committed by the Russian Federation concerning the integrity, sovereignty, and inviolability of the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

"The Russian Federation authorities justify the organisation of the Russian presidential elections in the uncontrolled territory of the Republic of Moldova through manipulative and cynical rhetoric. Specifically, the organisation of the Russian presidential elections in the Transnistrian region is masked under the label of 'defending the rights and interests' of the 250,000 Russian citizens in the Transnistrian region, including the right to vote," specifies Promo-LEX.

The Russian presidential elections are taking place over three days - between March 15 and 17, 2024. Last December, the Central Electoral Commission of Moscow adopted a resolution regarding the organisation of this election even in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Political observers say that the elections in Russia have very little to do with democratic elections. Additionally, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) criticised Russia in January for not inviting OSCE observers to the elections.

According to a poll conducted by a Kremlin-affiliated company, Russian President Vladimir Putin could obtain 82%, while three rival candidates, who either openly support Putin or follow the Kremlin's line, are seen as having no chances, with between 5% and 6%, according to the poll.

The Central Electoral Commission of Moscow did not authorise any opposition candidates to run in the current elections. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, stated that the results of the Russian presidential elections will not be recognized by the European Union.

Vladimir Putin has been president for longer than any other Russian leader since Joseph Stalin, surpassing even the 18-year term of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, who was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, writes Radio Free Europe.

The extension of Putin's tenure as President of Russia became possible after amendments to the Constitution in 2008 and 2020, which allow him to remain in office until 2036.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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