Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on Russian State Duma elections held on 18-20 September 2026 and their non-applicability on Ukrainian territory

The State Duma elections held by Russia on 18–20 September underscored the continued and deepening erosion of democracy in Russia, taking place in an increasingly authoritarian political environment. The absence of any level playing field was further exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and ongoing illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories. Russian authorities have continued to increase the systematic and institutionalised internal and transnational repression to exclude any democratic opposition forces from contesting the status quo. The decision to exclude candidates from the Yabloko party from running on the federal list further limited the choice for Russian voters, debarring from the electoral process one of the last remaining opposition forces and the only party with an anti-war platform. In the period preceding the elections, independent analysts and observers already reported extensive misuse of administrative and judicial resources to eliminate all those opposed to Russia’s illegal war of aggression, to deprive Russian voters of a genuine choice about the future of their country and to severely restrict access of Russians to independent in...