British Intelligence: Russia uses local elections to legitimise occupation

On February 1, 2023, Russian Federation Council chair Valentina Matvienko said that regional elections will take place in the newly annexed areas of Ukraine on 10 September 2023.

Incorporating the elections into the same day of voting which is scheduled across Russia highlights the leadership’s ambition to present the areas as integral parts of Russia, British Intelligence reported.

"This follows continued efforts to ‘Russify’ the occupied areas, which include revision of the education, communication, and transport systems. While meaningful democratic choices are no longer available to voters at even regional level elections in Russia, leaders will likely make the self-vindicating argument that new elections further justify the occupation," the report reads.