"Coerced Voting and Protests: Russia's Election Dilemma"

Ukrainians in territories occupied by the Russian military are being forced to vote in the Russian presidential election at gunpoint, a violation of international law condemned by Ukraine and 55 other nations. The election, guaranteed to be won by Vladimir Putin, offers no genuine democratic choice, with reports of intimidation, bribery, and pressure to force participation. The forced vote is part of a broader process of Russification in occupied regions, including forced curriculum changes in schools and requiring Ukrainians to sign up for Russian passports to function in daily life. The staging of the election in occupied Ukraine mirrors the process in autumn of 2022 when residents were similarly forced at gunpoint to vote in illegal referendums on Russian annexation.