The MFA discourages the participation of Romanian citizens in monitoring the elections in the Russian Federation

The break between Russia and much of the civilized world is total. Our country is no exception. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it does not recognize the legitimacy of the presidential elections organized by the Russian authorities in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, Kherson, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. According to the MFA: "In the period from March 15 to 17, 2024, presidential elections will be held in the Russian Federation. The Russian authorities have announced the organization of the polls in the Ukrainian territories illegally annexed or temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation since 2014. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recognize and will recognize the legitimacy of the mentioned elections held in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, Kherson, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which are integral parts of Ukraine. The MFA also reconfirms its firm support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its borders internationally recognized". According to the ministry, the Russian authorities have decided not to invite ODHIR/OSCE observers to the presidential election in March 2024, "in contradiction with assumed international obligations". At the same time, "it is possible for the Russian authorities to send invitations" for election observation and monitoring to foreign individuals or legal entities: "Under the given conditions, the MFA strongly discourages the participation of Romanian citizens or Romanian legal entities in monitoring the elections in the Russian Federation. MFA reminds that the presence of Romanian citizens in the territories belonging to Ukraine under the occupation of the Russian Federation, including for the purpose of the aforementioned electoral observation and monitoring, carries consequences of a criminal and administrative nature in accordance with Ukrainian law". Similar warnings and messages have been issued by other European states.