Metsola: No Recognition for Russia's Elections Amid Navalny's Death
"We won't recognize the outcome of Russia's upcoming presidential elections in mid-March due to the current situation," said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in an interview with Radio Free Europe.
"The death of Alexei Navalny is appalling and underscores the lack of tolerance for opposition," Metsola added, commenting on the widespread outrage following his demise.
She highlighted 2024 as a pivotal year for global democratic exercises but noted that events in Russia and its claimed territories in Ukraine are far from democratic.
The Russian presidential elections are scheduled for March 15, with Vladimir Putin as the sole candidate, seeking a fifth term to extend his presidency by another six years. Voting has already begun in the Far East and occupied territories of Ukraine, continuing until March 15, while the rest of the country will vote until March 17.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
