U.S. Says May Sanction Anyone Supporting Russia’s Sham Elections In Ukraine

The United States on Thursday reiterated its firm position against Russia’s sham elections in Ukraine's occupied areas, saying that it will 'never' recognize Moscow claims to any of Ukraine’s sovereign territory and may sanction anyone involved into it, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

".... And we remind any individuals who may support Russia’s sham elections in Ukraine, including by acting as so-called "international observers," that they may be subject to sanctions and visa restrictions," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Blinken went on to elaborate: "The Russian Federation is in the process of conducting sham elections in occupied areas of Ukraine. These so-called elections are taking place nearly one year after the Kremlin staged sham referenda and purported to annex Ukraine’s Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts, and over nine years after Russia purported to annex Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. The Kremlin hopes these pre-determined, fabricated results will strengthen Russia’s illegitimate claims to the parts of Ukraine it occupies, but this is nothing more than a propaganda exercise."

Moscow is reportedly planning to hold "local elections" on September 8-10. So-called "voting" has already begun in Mariupol and parts of Zaporizhia Oblast.

The Secretary added: "Russia’s actions demonstrate its blatant disregard for UN Charter principles like respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, which underpin global security and stability."

Alex Raufoglu