They took place during the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and in a context of systematic suppression of Russian civil society, independent media and any semblance of opposition.

Several presidential candidates, particularly those who oppose the aggression against Ukraine, have been prevented from running in the elections. Russian citizens have not had access to full and independent information, nor have they been able to vote for candidates who oppose the current regime. Once again, the Russian authorities did not allow the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observer mission to monitor the voting process.

Russia also organised voting in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Czechia does not recognise the holding of this illegitimate electoral farce in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and in the city of Sevastopol and parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions of Ukraine. The occupation of these aforementioned territories constitutes a violation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine under the UN Charter and the principles of international law. Russia's aim is once again to legalise the results of its aggressive policy towards Ukraine. In doing so, it is repeatedly violating international law by encroaching on the sovereignty of foreign states.

We believe that Russian citizens should have the right to choose their leadership in genuinely free and democratic elections.