EU, Nato say Russian election not ‘free and fair’

BRUSSELS: The EU and Nato said on Thursday an election in Russia set to see Vladimir Putin re-elected president would not be free or fair because the Kremlin has crushed all opposition.

Ms Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of deceased Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny, has urged on the West not to recognise the results of the presidential election, which starts on March 15.

“We know, given the track record of how votes are being prepared and organised in Russia under the current Kremlin administration and regime, how this will look like,” said European Union spokesman Peter Stano.

“It’s very difficult to foresee that this would be a free, fair and democratic election where the Russian people would really have a choice.”

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg also said the ballot “in Russia will not be free and fair”.

“We know already that opposition politicians are in jail, some are killed, and many are in exile, and actually also some who tried to register as candidates have been denied that right,” he said.

“There is no free and independent press in Russia.”

The three-day vote, expected to result in President Putin claiming another six years in power, comes after his invasion of Ukraine has destroyed ties between Moscow and the West.