Mr. Speaker, just one week after the Ukrainian parliamentary elections, the Kremlin-backed terrorist groups of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics held pseudo-elections in eastern Ukraine that were illegal and illegitimate. Ballots were cast in the presence of armed men, and information was actively spread that those who did not come to vote would be deemed disloyal and judged according to martial law.
Pensioners were told that to receive their pensions, they would have to come to voting precincts to confirm their residence.
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has said that the results of the election have no meaning. There were no official voters lists. Russian soldiers voted in Donetsk and Luhansk, and there was voting in Russia.
The Security Service of Ukraine has said that these events in terrorist-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk were acts of violence against Ukrainian citizens.
This election was a farce, conducted by coercion, at gunpoint, and was in violation of the expression of the people's true will. Canada will never recognize this election and continues to call on President Putin to stop the illegal occupation and invasion of Ukraine.