Russia plans electoral manipulation in occupied Ukrainian territories

Artem Lysohor, the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, reported the information.

According to him, in 2025, the Russian Central Election Commission is to approve a new scheme of single-member districts to replace the one adopted in 2015. 

The primary criterion for redrawing constituencies and determining their number will be the total population in the occupied territories.

"The main arena for manipulations is the so-called LPR and DPR, where large numbers of people from Russia's remote regions, families of Russian military personnel, and cheap labor are being brought in. It does not matter whether they vote in the occupied territories or at home. The Russian Central Election Commission is indifferent to whether the Russian military will be alive at that time; the main focus is on registration," said the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration. 

He further noted that another avenue for Russia's manipulation will be the number of local residents who return or arrive specifically on election day. It is emphasized that the local Russian-installed authorities can submit any figures related to this to Russia, regardless of accuracy.

• In March, the Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin was predictably “elected” to a new term in Russia in the so-called presidential elections, which also took place in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.