What You Need to Know About the Elections in Russia and Crimea

What You Need To Know: 

✅ Russia’s Parliamentary (Duma) elections took place on September 18th, 2016;
✅ Early exit polls showed vast support for United Russia, the party backed by President Putin;
✅ These were the first parliamentary elections held in occupied Crimea;
✅ Ukraine’s MFA Spokesperson Mariana Betsa tweeted: “Parliamentary elections in Crimea raise doubts about the legitimacy of Russia’s Parliament.”

With the current elections in Crimea deemed as illegal by Ukraine, Hromadske travelled to Yalta to speak to locals about their thoughts on the matter.

On September 18th, 2016 Russia held DUMA elections. It was the first time Crimean people voted in an election since Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014. Early exit polls showed vast support for United Russia, the party backed by President Putin. 
Ukraine’s MFA Spokesperson Mariana Betsa tweeted: “Parliamentary elections in Crimea raise doubts about the legitimacy of Russia’s Parliament.” US State Department has also published a statement that claims The United States does not recognize the legitimacy, and will not recognize the outcome, of this elections.

In 2011, the OSCE/ODIHR said that the Duma elections were slanted in favor of the ruling party.

With the current elections in Crimea deemed as illegal by Ukraine, Hromadske travelled to Yalta to speak to locals about their thoughts on the matter.