In Russia, amendments were made to the law "On Martial Law" — they were signed by the President of the Russian Federation Putin. They allow holding elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine and deporting people from there. This applies to Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
Therefore, the possibility of "forced and controlled transfer of citizens from the territory where martial law has been imposed to territories where martial law has not been imposed" was legalized.
In addition, Russia allowed referendums and elections to the so-called "bodies of state power" and "bodies of local self-government" in the occupied territories, if the Central Election Committee of the Russian Federation so decides. This can be done both on the entire occupied territory and on some part of it.
- In April, Putin signed a decree that provides for the "deportation" of Ukrainians from the territories of Ukraine occupied by Moscow. That is, Ukrainians who live in the occupied territories and have decided to retain Ukrainian citizenship have the right to stay there until July 1, 2024. After that, they can be deported.
- On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Putin and Russian Childrenʼs Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova. They are suspected of illegally deporting children from the occupied regions of Ukraine to Russia