13. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her assessment of the recent parliamentary elections in the Russian Federation. [69026/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 23 together.

The Government is concerned at the continuous erosion of human rights, political freedom, civil society, and democracy in Russia. Russian authorities have continued to increase the systematic and institutionalised internal and transnational repression to exclude any democratic opposition forces from contesting the status quo.

The absence of any level playing field has been further exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and ongoing illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories.

The State Duma elections held by Russia on 18–20 September underscore this situation and they took place in an increasingly authoritarian political environment.

The existence of a formal electoral process alone does not establish that voters have access to a genuine pluralistic political contest. The ability of opposition parties and candidates to organise, campaign and present alternative positions, including positions concerning Russia’s war against Ukraine, is an important element of democratic participation.

The decision to exclude candidates from the Yabloko party and others from running on the federal list limited the choice for Russian voters, debarring from the electoral process one of the last remaining opposition forces and the only party with an anti-war platform.

The decision of the Russian Federation, once again, not to invite international election observers is inconsistent with commitments undertaken by all OSCE participating States under the 1990 Copenhagen Document. The absence of international election observers is particularly concerning in the context of the wider deterioration in civic space in Russia.

The organisation by the Russian Federation of elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is a violation of international law and of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ireland does not recognise the legitimacy of any Russian organised elections in these territories, nor their results.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there has been a sharp increase in arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as harassment and persecution, of political opposition, peaceful activists, human rights defenders, journalists, cultural figures, members of the LGBTIQ+ community and ethnic minorities.

Russia has introduced a series of restrictive laws to limit the activities of civil society in Russia, and to target critics living outside the country. The Russian authorities are rapidly expanding the numbers of individuals designated as foreign agents, terrorists or extremists to inhibit scope for open discussion and a functioning civil society.

Ireland will continue to raise concerns regarding restrictions on political pluralism, freedom of expression and civic space in Russia, including through the EU, OSCE and United Nations. We will also continue to support the principle that political participation and peaceful expression of opposition views should be protected in accordance with Russia’s international commitments.