EU not recognizes holding of presidential election in Crimea - statement

The European Union does not recognize holding of the Russian presidential election in the territory of the Crimean peninsula.

This is stated in a statement issued by the European External Action Service on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported from Brussels.

"The European Union does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and therefore does not recognize the holding of elections in the Crimean peninsula," the statement reads.

The OSCE/ODIHR observers did not conduct any activities in these illegally-annexed territories; participation of EU Member States' diplomats in observation activities within the framework of the OSCE/ODIHR EOM was also limited to the recognized territory of the Russian Federation.

The EU remains unwavering in its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

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