:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/PGSV5AIIGJF4DODXFASSYZCW3U.jpg "Blinken questioned the legitimacy and transparency of the elections in Russia: “They are undemocratic”")
The Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, has raised concerns about the legitimacy and transparency of the recent presidential elections in Russia, where Vladimir Putin secured his sixth term amid international scrutiny. Blinken criticized the Russian authorities for repressing independent voices and marginalizing opposition groups, leading to a lack of meaningful democratic processes.
Furthermore, Blinken accused Putin of depriving Russian citizens of access to information and attempting to create an illusion of widespread support for the conflict in Ukraine through censorship and intimidation. The official results of the elections gave Putin a landslide victory with 87.28% of the votes, followed by other candidates with significantly lower support.
The Undersecretary General of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs of the United Nations, Rosemary DiCarlo, also condemned the elections held by Russia in occupied Ukrainian territories, labeling them as a violation of international law. DiCarlo emphasized the illegitimacy of the Russian occupation of Crimea and other regions of Ukraine, calling for respect for Ukraine’s laws in the occupied territories.
It is clear that the international community is closely monitoring the developments in Russia and Ukraine, with concerns raised about the lack of democracy and respect for human rights in the region.