Norway condemns Russia's elections in occupied areas of Ukraine
Norway, along with several other countries, has issued strong criticism of Russia's elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Together with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, the Norwegian government has signaled that they do not recognize the legitimacy of these elections.
The background for the statement is the Russian State Duma election that was recently conducted in Ukrainian territories currently under Russian control. Norway and the other countries maintain that holding elections in these areas is a violation of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty.
The international community has repeatedly emphasized that the areas occupied by Russia are an integral part of Ukraine. By organizing elections in these regions, Russia is attempting to legitimize its presence and control over the territories.
Norway continues to support Ukraine in its fight for independence. The Norwegian government emphasizes that elections held on Ukrainian soil without the approval of Ukrainian authorities have no legal standing in the international community.