European Parliament adopts resolution recognising Putin as illegitimate president

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution recognising Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as an illegitimate president.

Source. This was reported by the press service of the European Parliament.

The resolution also states that the EU "should actively support Russian civil society and the democratic opposition". The reason for the condemnation was the fact that the elections were also held in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

The resolution was adopted with 493 votes in favour, 11 against and 18 abstentions.

The Parliament condemns the illegitimate presidential elections in Russia and in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. After the so-called presidential elections held in Russia on 15-17 March 2024, MEPs call on EU member states and the international community not to recognise their results as legitimate, as they were held in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine, and in Russia they were neither free nor fair, the document says.

This farcical performance of the Russian authorities had the sole purpose of creating the appearance of legitimacy for Vladimir Putin, his policy of unrelenting internal repression and, most importantly, for the aggressive war against Ukraine, MEPs believe.

The Parliament regrets that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has decided to back away from the EU and congratulate Putin on his fictitious re-election.

The Parliament calls on Member States to limit relations with Putin to issues necessary for peace in the region, as well as humanitarian and human rights goals, such as prisoner exchanges, the return of children deported from Ukraine, or calls for the release of political prisoners.

The EU should stand in full solidarity with Russian civil society and punish those responsible for human rights violations. MEPs call on the EU and its Member States to continue to actively support independent Russian civil society organisations, independent media and human rights defenders, as well as to actively engage with and support the Russian democratic opposition."

Background. As reported, the German government will no longer refer to the Russian dictator as president. The country's Foreign Ministry does not recognise these elections as legitimate.