This so‑called election hardly deserves the name. Banning the only party openly calling for peace, blocking observers and restricting movement make a mockery of any claim to a free, competitive vote — no matter what the official turnout or results say. Using a backdrop of drone strikes and strikes on civilian infrastructure to frame the narrative is cynical and dangerous: civilians on both sides are paying the price, and political theater during active hostilities only deepens repression at home and violence abroad. If the reports are true, Yabloko’s exclusion and the harassment of its supporters show why genuine pluralism and independent monitoring matter more than ever. The international community should keep pressing for a ceasefire, protect human rights, and support real conditions for free and fair elections — diplomacy and accountability, not silence and escalation, are the path forward.
