Russian envoy to Ireland hits out at condemnation of Putin's election

Russian ambassador to Ireland Yuriy Filatov said the comments represented an 'outright interference into internal affairs' of Russia and disrespect for Russian people.

The Russian ambassador to Ireland has hit out at sweeping condemnation in Ireland, Europe and within the UN and other international bodies of the so-called elections in Russia.

That exercise saw the re-election of President Vladimir Putin, with 87% of the vote, for a further six years in what is his fifth term in office.

The election sparked condemnation from UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, EU Council president Charles Michel, EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell and president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Theodoros Rousopoulos, among others.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland said the elections were “neither free nor fair” and said Ireland would not recognise the holding of elections in Ukraine territories occupied by Russia.

In a statement, the Russian ambassador to Ireland Yuriy Filatov hit out at the “noise” in the West at the elections and described Mr Borrell’s statement, issued on behalf of member states, as “hysterical, defamatory, dismissive, hateful and irrelevant”.

He said the comments represented an “outright interference into internal affairs” of Russia and disrespect for Russian people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a concert marking his victory in the presidential election on Monday. Picture: AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko

Mr Filatov claimed the vote “left no doubt” the opinion of Russians and further claimed it backed President Putin’s actions in Ukraine.

UN spokesman Stephan Dujarric said the secretary general “condemns” the holding of elections in occupied Ukraine and said Russia’s “illegal annexation” of these regions had “no validity” under international law.

Mr Michel posted on X, formerly Twitter, on the day the elections started, last Friday: “I would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory in the elections starting today. No opposition. No freedom. No choice.” 

Would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory in the elections starting today.

No opposition.
No freedom.
No choice.

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) March 15, 2024

Mr Borrell, on behalf of member states, said the elections were held in a “highly restricted” environment.

He said there had been “systematic internal repression” in Russia, involving a crackdown on opposition politicians, civil society, independent media and other critical voices.

He said this had involved repressive legislation and politically motivated prison sentences — and said the shocking death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in a Siberian gulag was another sign of the “accelerating and systematic repression”.

Mr Rousopoulos of PACE said the Russian elections “have no legitimacy” and added: “There were no genuine candidates, no free media, no credible observers present. Civil society has been silent.” 

The Council of Europe, the continent's human rights body, has 46 member states, including the EU’s 27.

“All political opposition has been brutally suppressed, and any critics of the regime are either imprisoned or have been forced out of the country,” Mr Rousopoulos said.