Russian lawmakers approve amendment to martial law allowing elections and deportation of residents in annexed territories

An amendment to a law on holding elections during martial law won committee approval in Russia’s State Duma, reports Russian state media TASS.

The news outlet Vedomosti noted that a clause about the possibility of “forced and controlled movement of citizens from territories where martial law is in effect to territories where it is not in effect” was added in the second reading of the amendment.

The “movement of citizens” would be carried out following a presidential order. A separate clause stated that citizens may be subject to administrative detention for up to 30 days if they violate the prohibitions and restrictions established by the presidential order.

Martial law is in effect in four annexed regions: Ukraine’s Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. The Russian authorities announced that regional elections would take place in the annexed territories in 2023.