ISTANBUL

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation on Monday amending the country's election law and allowing voting under martial law, including in Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia during the ongoing conflict.

The bill, which was posted on the Russian government’s online portal, stipulates that referendums and elections may be held on territories where martial law has been declared following consultations between the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Defense Ministry and the Federal Security Service (FSB).

The bill further said that the elections and referendums in regions under martial law can be held across the entire region or in certain parts with approval from the three bodies.

The bill also delegated Russian-installed administrations in Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions the right to independently determine certain provisions of the federal election law.

In October, Putin signed a decree on the introduction of martial law in the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, which were annexed from Ukraine last September following what the West denounced as "sham" referendums.​​​​​​​
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