Go to media bankFlags with EU symbols. File photoBRUSSELS, Sep 12The EU will not recognize the holding and results of the Russian elections held on September 9-11 in Crimea and Sevastopol, the representatives elected in these areas will also not be recognized by the European Union, follows from the statement of the European Foreign Service. The elections were held in Russia from September 9 to 11. About 4.7 thousand election campaigns covered 82 regions, 44 million Russians could take part in them. Direct voting elected 14 governors, deputies of six legislative assemblies and the City Duma of 12 administrative centers.The visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia has ceased to operate «The EU does not recognize the holding of these elections and their results in Crimea and Sevastopol … None of the» elected «on the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula during these elections and claiming to «represent» the population of Crimea and Sevastopol has no legitimacy and will not be recognized,” the document states. The EU also once again recalled its demand “immediately and unconditionally stop illegal, unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and withdraw all forces and military equipment from all territory of Ukraine within its borders recognized by the international community.» Crimea became a Russian region in March 2014 following a referendum following a coup d'état in Ukraine. In the referendum, 96.77% of voters in Crimea and 95.6% in Sevastopol voted for joining Russia. Ukraine still considers Crimea its own, but temporarily occupied territory, many Western countries support Kyiv in this. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically, in full accordance with international law and the UN Charter, voted for reunification with Russia. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the issue of Crimea is «finally closed».
