The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the illegitimacy of the “so-called presidential elections in Russia.” “The insignificant ones accepted the insignificant,” the Russian Foreign Ministry responded.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution “On undemocratic presidential elections in Russia and their illegal conduct in the occupied territories.”

The document states that “the so-called presidential elections in Russia were illegitimate and undemocratic.”

“This farcical performance by the Russian authorities pursued the only goal – to create the appearance of electoral legitimacy of Vladimir Putin, his policy of merciless internal repression and, above all, an aggressive war against Ukraine,” the resolution says.

The resolution condemns the holding of elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Members of the European Parliament call on the EU countries and the international community not to recognize the election results as legitimate, since they took place in occupied territories and “even within Russia were neither free nor fair.”

The European Parliament hailed “the bravery of thousands of people in Russia who are protesting against the Putin regime and seeking to make their country democratic, including through acts of resistance during the so-called elections, when they filled polling stations in Russia and abroad at noon on March 17.”

The document also claims that the Kremlin and Putin personally “bear criminal and political responsibility” for the death of Alexei Navalny. In addition, the European Parliament called for the release of Russian political prisoners. The document says EU countries should continue to “actively support” independent Russian civil society organizations, independent media and human rights defenders, as well as provide humanitarian visas and other support to Russian dissidents.

“The insignificant ones accepted the insignificant,” commented the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, on the European Parliament resolution.

Elections in Russia took place from March 15 to 17. According to the Central Election Commission, Vladimir Putin received 87.28% of the votes. The independent movement of observers “Voice” issued a statement following the election results, saying that Russia had never had “a presidential campaign that was so inconsistent with constitutional standards.” Independent election analysts estimate that about 22 million votes in the presidential election were rigged in favor of Vladimir Putin.

The only leader from the European Union who congratulated Putin on his victory in the elections was Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The European Union in its statement criticized the vote, which “took place under conditions of severe restrictions.” It did not follow from the statement that the EU does not recognize the results of the elections in Russia.