Kiev's Stance on Russian Election 'Could Backfire in Most Unexpected Way'

Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) chair Ella Pamfilova said Monday she hoped Ukraine would reexamine its refusal to allow polling stations to open at Russian diplomatic missions in the country during the September 18 vote to the Russian parliament.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko instructed Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin late last week to inform Russia about the "impossibility of conducting Russian elections on Ukrainian territory."

"I hope that the Ukrainian authorities will change their position, because this situation could backfire on Ukraine in the most unexpected way," Pamfilova told RIA Novosti in an interview.

Polling stations have been prepared for opening in the Russian Embassy in Kiev, as well as consulates in Odesa, Lviv and Kharkiv. Additionally, the Russian CEC and the Foreign Ministry jointly called on Kiev to ensure security at Russian diplomatic establishments during the parliamentary vote.

"Unfortunately, the absurd situation that violates all international norms ensuring overseas voting can materialize for Russian citizens on the territory of Ukraine… Bust just in case, we have also organized polling stations in countries bordering Ukraine with their consent," Pamfilova said.

On Wednesday, the CEC chair said 14 of 42 foreign electoral commissions have accepted Russia's invitation to observe the vote to lower house of parliament known as the State Duma this Sunday.