Ukraine Imposes Sanctions on 237 People Involved in Organisation of Russia’s State Duma Elections in Occupied Territories

The National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (NSDC) imposed sanctions on another 237 people involved in the preparations for Russia’s State Duma elections in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas.

“A decision has been made regarding those people who were directly involved in the voting, organised the elections in Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. We continue to impose sanctions on all these people – today [sanctions were imposed on] 237 people,” NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov announced at a briefing.

Danilov also stated that sanctions had been imposed on the Russian Mere retail chain.

“After today’s NSDC meeting, it has no right to work. Currently, they operate only in Bila Tserkva town. After today’s meeting, they can no longer work in our country,” the official said.

As a reminder, on 22 September, the Verkhovna Rada approved the statement on the illegitimacy of elections of members of the State Duma of the Russian Federation that took place from 17-19 September. The European Union, the United States, Britain, and a number of other countries said they did not recognise the elections in occupied Crimea. The Security Service of Ukraine opened a criminal case under the treason article over voting in Crimea.

On 5 October, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the NSDC decision to impose sanctions on certain individuals over the conduct of the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas.

According to the decree, economic restrictions were imposed on 33 candidates for members of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and 54 members of the so-called “election commissions” in occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Crimea. A full package of sanctions applied to those people provides for asset freezes and a travel ban.

Bohdan Marusyak