France did not recognise the results of the presidential elections in Crimea and the occupied regions
Meanwhile, the leaders of China and India congratulated Putin
Paris has reviewed the results of the Russian presidential election, but did not recognise them in the occupied territories, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
"France takes note of the expected outcome of the presidential election, according to which Putin will remain president of Russia for a fifth term. France also condemns the organisation of the so-called "elections" in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories," the statement said.
It stressed that the organisation of the electoral process in the occupied Ukrainian regions is a gross violation of the UN Charter.
Paris noted that the electoral process in Russia took place under conditions of intensified repression against civil society and any form of opposition, as well as during a period of restrictions on freedom of speech and a ban on independent media.
"Candidates who oppose the continuation of the war in Ukraine were not allowed to participate in the elections, which significantly reduced their pluralistic character," the French Foreign Ministry added.
The French ministry expressed regret that Russia had decided not to invite observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
Earlier in the day, the German government said it did not consider the presidential election in Russia to be legitimate and did not plan to recognise its results. A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the foreign ministry would continue to refer to the Russian president as simply Putin, as it had done in the past.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Putin and said that Beijing would maintain close contacts with Moscow to promote the "boundless" partnership they agreed on in 2022, just before Russia invaded Ukraine.
"I believe that under your leadership, Russia will certainly be able to make greater achievements in national development and construction," Xi told Putin in his message, according to Xinhua News.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed the message, saying he hoped to strengthen New Delhi's "time-honoured special and privileged strategic partnership" with Moscow.
Read more about which countries were the first to congratulate Putin on his so-called "victory" in the elections in the article "Friend of my enemy: which countries' leaders congratulated Putin on his "victory" in the elections".
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