EU doesn't recognize Russian "elections" in Crimea - Kocijancic

"The European Union continues to condemn the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and will not recognize it. In that context we regret that for a second-year in a row Russia has organized so-called "elections" on the territory of the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula. The European Union recognizes neither the legal framework nor the legitimacy of these 'elections'," Kocijancic stressed. The Spokesperson also said that the regional and local elections in Russia took place in the general context of progressively shrinking space for civil society in Russia resulting from restrictive legislation and administrative procedures. "We are aware of the reports issued by Russian independent election observers on electoral violations," spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said. As reported, on September 13, the regional and local elections were held in Russia, including in the temporarily occupied Crimea.