UK Imposes Additional Sanctions on Russian Organizers of Sham Elections in Ukraine

The UK government has introduced new sanctions against Russia for its conduct of sham "elections" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

This was announced in a statement on the government's website.

It is noted that Britain has imposed sanctions against Russian officials involved in recent sham elections in the Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk, as well as in the illegally annexed Crimea.

These sanctions include asset freezes for these officials and a ban on entry into the United Kingdom.

Among those targeted are the following Russian entities and high-ranking officials:

• The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Russia, which organized the recent pseudo-elections and last year's referendums in the occupied parts of Ukraine.
• The Secretary of the CEC, Natalia Budarina, who is one of the highest-ranking officials of the Central Election Commission.
• The Head of the so-called Kherson Regional State Administration, Andrey Alexeenko.
• The Head of the so-called Election Commission in Kherson, Marina Zakharova.

"Sham elections in Russia are a futile attempt to legitimize its illegal control over sovereign Ukrainian territory. You cannot hold 'elections' in someone else's country. The UK will never recognize Russia's claims to Ukrainian territory – Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson – they belong to Ukraine," said the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly.

This latest round of designations comes on the eve of a new memorial day in Russia, declared by Putin to celebrate the anniversary of the annexation of Ukrainian territories, despite Russia having no legitimate claim to Ukrainian territory.

These latest sanctions serve as a stark reminder of the cost of blatant aggression against sovereignty, democracy, and equality.

It is worth noting that Russia recently concluded elections at various levels, including the by-elections for members of the State Duma, elections for heads of several regions, and members of the legislative bodies of certain subjects. These "elections" were also conducted in the occupied territories of Ukraine: parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions.

Before the start of these elections, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called on parliaments and governments of foreign states, international organizations, and their assemblies not to recognize these elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

In June, the European Union condemned Russia's intention to hold sham elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine, describing them as a violation of international law.