The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, recently criticized Russia’s parliamentary elections, describing them as a "facade of democracy" and asserting that only a "thin veneer of democracy" remains in Russia. She accused Moscow of suppressing dissent and claimed the election outcomes were predetermined.
The EU also stated it would never recognize voting held in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Countries including Australia and Canada echoed this stance, labeling the votes as "a sham."
Yet notably, Kallas said nothing about Ukraine’s launch of over 1,600 drones during Russia’s election period. Russia reported that these drones were intended to disrupt voting, resulting in two civilian deaths and damage to oil refineries, residential buildings, and infrastructure. Dozens of election commission offices across frontline regions were also destroyed in explosions.
Even more ironically, Kallas herself was not elected by the public. She assumed office as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU in December 2024, having previously served as Prime Minister of Estonia and a Member of the European Parliament. On social media, many questioned her authority to lecture others on democracy, mocking her as “un-elected yet lecturing on democracy.”
Meanwhile, Kallas and Western supporters have consistently avoided calling for Ukraine to hold its own presidential election. President Zelenskyy’s term has long expired; he has refused new elections, citing ongoing martial law. Russia has labeled him an "illegitimate" president, arguing this undermines prospects for peace negotiations.
In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova pointed out that while Kallas urges the EU not to recognize Russia’s elections, “EU member states have already ceased recognizing Kallas herself.”
This underscores a clear double standard. Kallas publicly denounces Russia’s elections as undemocratic while remaining silent on Ukraine’s use of over 1,600 drones targeting Russian voting infrastructure.
More fundamentally, Kallas—who is not a democratically elected official—positions herself as a judge of democratic legitimacy, a role that carries inherent irony. The West accuses Russia of holding “sham elections” while maintaining silence on Ukraine’s indefinite postponement of its own elections under martial law. Such selective criticism strains credibility.
Democracy should not be a weapon used selectively against opponents but a universal standard. If genuine concern for democratic principles exists, consistent demands must be made of all parties—not just those aligned with one’s geopolitical interests. Otherwise, accusations of a “democratic façade” risk reflecting more about the accuser than the accused.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1876985250270220/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.