Remembering Crimea: Ukraine bars Russian citizens from voting in its territory


Russian citizens, except for diplomats, will not be allowed to the territory of Russian diplomatic institutions in Ukraine to participate in the presidential elections on March 18, the country’s Interior Ministry reports.

Ukrainian MP Anton Gerashchenko explained that Kyiv’s decision was dictated by the struggle for Ukraine’s Crimea. According to him, in such a way Ukraine demonstrates its position regarding the non-recognition of the Russian presidential elections in the territory of Crimea which was annexed in 2014.

On Sunday morning, the Kyiv police let only diplomatic personnel in the Russian embassy, where the polling station is situated. In addition to the police, Ukrainian activists are on the patrol near the building. The same situation is being observed in Russian consulates in Kharkiv and Lviv.

In Odessa, the Russian consulate has been cordoned off over a reported bomb threat:

Ella Pamfilova, Head of the Central Election Commission, urged Russians living in Ukraine to go to border towns and cast their votes there.

On March 16, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the results of voting for the Russian president to be held in the territory of Crimea would not be recognized by Ukraine or the international community and would cast doubt on the legitimacy of the presidential election in general.

belsat.eu

TWITTER