©Reuters. Ella Pamfilova, chairwoman of Russia’s Central Election Commission, announces the preliminary results of the presidential election in Moscow, Russia, March 17, 2024. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
(Reuters) – Below are reactions from foreign governments and officials to Russia’s presidential election, which gave Vladimir Putin a landslide victory and another six-year term, according to the first official results on Sunday.
WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SPOKESPERSON
“The elections are obviously neither free nor fair, given that Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him.”
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY
“These days the Russian dictator is faking another election. It is clear to everyone in the world that this figure, as has often happened throughout history, is simply power-hungry and will do everything he can to rule forever.”
“There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be. This person should be tried in The Hague. This is what we must ensure.”
THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
“Pseudo-elections in Russia are neither free nor fair, the result will not surprise anyone. Putin’s government is authoritarian, based on censorship, repression and violence. “Elections” in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void and another violation of international law.”
UK FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID CAMERON ON
“The polls have closed in Russia, due to the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, the lack of choice for voters and the absence of independent monitoring by the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ).This is not what free and fair elections look like.”
STATEMENT BY THE POLISH FOREIGN MINISTRY
“From 15 to 17 March 2024, the so-called presidential elections took place in Russia. The voting took place in conditions of extreme repression against society, making it impossible to make a free and democratic choice.”