Putin allowed the holding of referendums in regions under martial law
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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that excludes a ban on holding referendums and elections to government bodies in those regions where martial law is in effect. Document published on the official Internet portal of legal information.
According to the text of the bill, now in the regions where martial law has been introduced, it will be possible to hold elections and referendums, but only after consultations of the Central Election Commission (CEC) with the Ministry of Defense and the FSB. In accordance with the adopted document, the head of the region on whose territory martial law has been introduced can send an application to the CEC for the purpose of holding elections or a referendum. The CEC is obliged to consider the application within five days and consult with the FSB and the Ministry of Defense. After that, in case of consent, the CEC informs the president about this, in case of refusal – the head of the region.
In addition, the amendments state that “the legislation of the Russian Federation on elections and referendums may establish other features of the preparation and conduct of elections, a referendum during the period of martial law.”
The bill on amendments to the electoral legislation was submitted to the State Duma by deputies and senators on March 28, 2023. The document was adopted in the first reading on April 18. On May 18, the State Duma adopted it in the third, final reading. The Federation Council approved the bill on May 24.
Now martial law is in force only in four regions of Russia – on the territory of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, which became part of Russia following referendums. Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced it on October 20, 2022. Then he recalled that martial law was introduced in these regions even before joining Russia.
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