Kiev announced on Friday sanctions against people involved in the organization of Russian parliamentary elections in Crimea annexed by Moscow and in the pro-Russian separatist east of Ukraine, calling the vote a
"farce".
Russia has distributed more than 600,000 passports in the separatist east of Ukraine, while the Crimea is considered by Moscow as part of its territory.
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Polling stations are planned in Crimea as part of the legislative elections taking place in Russia from Friday to Sunday. The inhabitants of the separatist regions can participate in the voting electronically in that territory or to vote in Russia's Rostov region, bordering Ukraine.
"Russia does not have the right to organize elections in these territories, that is why all participants"
in this process, in particular
"members of electoral commissions"
and
"observers"
will be struck by these
"sanctions"
under the terms of a presidential decree to be published
"soon"
, said the Secretary of the National security Council Oleksiy Danilov. He also warned foreigners, including French and Serbs wishing to travel to these areas as election observers. If they participate in
"this farce"
,
"They will undoubtedly be affected by the sanctions," "they are senators or other such officials enjoying immunity"
, he stressed.
Already Thursday, the head of Ukrainian diplomacy Dmytro Kouleba denounced as
"violation of international law"
the holding of Russian elections in Crimea and the participation in this vote of the inhabitants of the separatist zones.
"The Russian occupation will end"
one day and Russia
"will have to pay"
, he said.
Ukraine has been in conflict since 2014 with pro-Russian separatists widely seen as militarily sponsored by Russia despite its denials.
This war, which broke out shortly after the annexation of Crimea, has claimed more than 13,000 lives to date.
