EU imposes sanctions over Russian State Duma "elections" in occupied territories of Ukraine

The Council of the EU has added 77 individuals to its sanctions list in connection with the illegal "elections" to the Russian State Duma in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Source: press service for the Council of the EU, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Council has decided to adopt restrictive measures against 77 individuals who were involved in the illegal sham "elections" for the Russian State Duma, held in September 2026 in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily and illegally occupied.

The European Union has unequivocally condemned the organisation of these so-called "elections" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, which breaches Ukrainian and international law, including the UN Charter, and undermines Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The listings agreed today include 74 candidates who stood for election for various parties in the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic", the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" and Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, as well as the so-called "Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol". By running in the Russian State Duma "elections" these individuals actively contributed to efforts to legitimise Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and to support Russia's illegal occupation of territories of Ukraine.

For the same reasons, the Council has imposed restrictive measures on three members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation for organising the sham elections.

Those listed today are subject to a travel ban that prohibits them from entering or transiting through EU territories, and to an asset freeze. Additionally, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Background:

• On 12 October, EU foreign ministers approved the expansion of sanctions lists to include nearly 1,600 new names.

• On 12 October, the EU Foreign Affairs Council is also due to discuss the possibility of restricting the movement of Russian diplomats between EU member states, potentially including a complete ban on travelling outside the country in which they are accredited.
• The EU has also been discussing since the summer restrictions on issuing visas to people who fought in Ukraine on Russia's side. The EU's 21st sanctions package introduced a mechanism for banning visas for Russian military personnel, but the ban itself has not yet taken effect.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.