The re-election of Vladimir Putin as president of Russia is based on "repression and intimidation", the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said in Brussels, reported AFP.
The presidential elections in Russia "were not a free and fair vote", but were "based on repression and intimidation", Borel emphasized shortly before the meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers.
Russia's presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin was re-elected with 87.29% of the vote, "took place against a backdrop of severe restrictions exacerbated by Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," Borrell said in a statement on behalf of the European Union.
"The Russian authorities continued to intensify systemic repression" in Russia targeting the opposition, civil society, independent media and "other critical voices through the use of repressive legislation and politically motivated prison sentences," the EU statement added.
The European Union also stressed that it will not recognize the results of the "illegal" elections held in Ukrainian territories under Russian control. "They are void and cannot produce any legal effect," the 27 EU member states said.
The Kremlin master, who has been in power for nearly a quarter of a century, saw his score jump by 10 points compared to 2018. The official results are expected to be announced on March 21. /BGNES
