The Foreign Office expressed concern about the observance of civil freedoms in Russia after the publication of OSCE report on Sunday’s elections to the State Duma – BBC reports.
The Parliament Assemble of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe concluded that Kremlin’s tight control over mass media and civil society negatively affected the elections in total.
“We acknowledge the OSCE report on the progress of elections to the State Duma […] and share fears regarding the observance of human rights in Russia. The free and dynamic society is required for democracy”, the Foreign Office representative noted.
UK, as previously the European Union and USA, did not recognize the legitimacy of elections in the Crimea, annexed by Russia.
“OSCE did not keep track of the election process in the Crimea. The Crimea’s annexation in March 2014 was and remains illegal and unlawful until today”, according to UK diplomatic mission.
As per results of Sunday’s elections, the party “United Russia” received a constitutional majority in the new Duma with voter turnout of 48%.
