France denounces Russian elections in occupied Ukrainian territories and lack of OSCE monitoring

France's foreign ministry issued a statement criticizing the conduct of Russia's latest legislative election, arguing that repression of civil society, opposition parties and independent media prevented a free and democratic choice. The ministry also rejected the validity of elections organized by Russia in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, Sevastopol and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, labeling them a violation of international law and the UN Charter.

Paris expressed regret that Russia again refused to invite the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to observe the vote, resulting in a lack of impartial international monitoring. The French statement reiterated its commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. Additionally, France condemned Russia's establishment of voting stations in the separatist regions of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria without consent from Georgia and Moldova.