European Parliament condemns Russia’s Duma elections: 3 Czechs object

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling the elections to Russia’s State Duma, held on 18–20 September 2026, neither free nor fair. A total of 482 MEPs voted for the document, 41 voted against and 39 abstained.

What the resolution says

“Parliament condemns the State Duma elections, which were neither free nor fair. MEPs also condemn all violations of electoral rules by Vladimir Putin’s regime, as well as the earlier long and deliberate destruction of all remnants of democracy in Russia,” the MEPs said in a press release.

According to them, the elections had no genuine alternative candidates, no free media and no credible observers, and political freedoms were not respected. “Critics of the regime have been either imprisoned, killed or forced into exile,” they added.

The resolution also condemned the holding of voting in the territories of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova occupied by Russia. It called for targeted EU sanctions against newly elected Duma deputies, people involved in organising elections in the occupied territories, and Russian officials taking part in repression.

The document states that EU relations with Russia cannot be normalised without a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, based on full territorial integrity, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners of war, detained civilians and forcibly deported Ukrainian children, full reparations and compensation to Ukraine, and accountability for all war crimes.

How the Czechs voted

The resolution was backed by the European People’s Party, Social Democrats, Conservatives and Reformists, Renew Europe and the Greens. Among Czech MEPs, those who voted in favour were:

— from the Patriots for Europe group: Jaroslav Bžoch, Klára Dostálová, Jaroslav Knot, Tomáš Kubín and Jana Nagyová (all ANO), as well as Antonín Staněk (elected for Oath);
— from the Conservatives and Reformists group: Ondřej Krutílek, Alexandr Vondra and Veronika Vrecionová (ODS), as well as Nikola Bartůšek (elected for Oath);
— from the European People’s Party group: Danuše Nerudová (STAN), Ondřej Kolář and Luděk Niedermayer (both TOP 09) and Tomáš Zdechovský (KDU-ČSL);
— from the Greens group: Markéta Gregorová (Pirates).

Three Czechs voted against: Ivan David (SPD) of the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations group, and the non-attached MEPs Ondřej Dostál and Kateřina Konečná (both from Stačilo!).

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz