Major European Union Nations US, UK Among Countries To Boycott Putin’s Swear-In For 5th Term

Several nations across the globe have called for a boycott of Vladimir Putin's swearing-in as the President of Russia for the 5th term.

Citing a "lack of democratic legitimacy", the US, the UK, and several European Union nations have decided to boycott the swearing-in ceremony of Vladimir Putin as the President of Russia. The boycotting group of nations will not be sending their envoys to Putin’s inauguration.

Countries Boycotting Putin's Swear-In

Putin has secured a fifth term in office by winning 87.28 per cent of the total votes. However, Britain, Canada, the United States, and twenty European Union members, including Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, are abstaining from attending the event. Apart from the alleged "democratic deficit", the mysterious death of the Russian opposition leader- Alexei Navalny, the Ukraine war, and alleged Russian cyber-attacks, are some of the other reasons that these countries have provided.

According to Interfax news agency, the heads of all the foreign diplomatic missions in Moscow had been invited to attend Putin's inauguration.

The US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says that even though the election process was foreseen and fairness was not likely to be expected, Putin securing a fifth term in the same capacity is not welcomed. He told reporters. “No, we will not have a representative at his inauguration.”

While, on behalf of the 20 EU nations, the spokesperson said the bloc's ambassador to Russia would not attend the ceremony as most of the bloc's member states do not support Putin’s representation.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also clarified the country’s stand and said, “Ukraine sees no legal grounds for recognising him as the democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation.”

France's Stand Over Putin's Swearing-In

However, along with Hungary and Slovakia, France, despite the recently deteriorated relations with Russia, will also be represented by its ambassador at the Kremlin event, news agency Reuters reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, said, “We are not at war with Russia or the Russian people, and we have no desire for regime change in Moscow.” Macron had earlier said that France might send troops to help Ukraine if Kyiv requests assistance over the anticipated breakthrough of Russia through the Ukrainian front.