Democracy Crimea style: Konstantinov re-elected as “Speaker of Parliament” unanimously
Vladimir Konstantinov, who headed the so-called “state council” of Crimea after the illegal annexation of the peninsula by Russia, was again elected “head of parliament”.
According to TASS, 74 “MPs” out of 74 who voted for the 62-year-old leader of the Crimean branch of the Putin’s United Russia party.
Konstantinov was the only contender for his post, other factions (LDPR – 10 “members” and the Communist Party – 5 “members”) did not nominate their candidates.
Voting took place in secret using ballots in special booths.
On September 8, “elections” to the “parliament” (“state council”) and local “government bodies” were held in Crimea with a voter turnout lower than 35%. On the annexed peninsula this was explained with the fact that in European countries the turnout supposedly “most often does not exceed 35%”, and this figure in Crimea also fits into the “average Russian standard”.
In turn, in an interview with QHA media, the Deputy Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, MP Akhtem Chiygoz said that ignoring the “elections” is an ongoing systemic protest of the Crimeans. On September 11, the Verkhovna Rada did not recognize the legitimacy of the so-called “elections” in the annexed Crimea, held on September 8.
