Western governments would rather not even recognize the new term of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But is this possible and legitimate? On May 7, the fifth presidential term of Vladimir Putin was inaugurated, with a magnificent swearing-in ceremony in the Kremlin. Regarding the legality of his re-election, however, serious doubts are expressed. The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has pointed out that the presidential elections of May 17 are not in line with democratic values, moreover, it was not illegal to hold elections in occupied Ukrainian territories. . But what does this mean in practice?Is it that the EU refuses to recognize Putin as the legitimate president of the Russian Federation?

The first assessment heard at the Parliamentary Conference of the Council of Europe (PACE) was that the Putin presidency is illegitimate. On April 18, the Conference, with its resolution, called on the member states of the international organization, as well as those of the EU, to no longer recognize Vladimir Putin as the legitimate president of Russia and to cut off contacts with him, with the exception of those concerning the undertaking humanitarian action and “pacification”. Of course, PACE resolutions are not binding.

Non-binding resolutions

A few days later the European Parliament expressed a similar position. Moreover, in his resolution, he calls on the member states “not to recognize as legitimate the result of the Russian presidential election and to limit relations with Putin to matters absolutely necessary for peace in the region, as well as for reasons concerning the humanitarian action and respect for human rights”. This decision of the European Parliament is not binding either, therefore it has no direct consequences. Foreign policy falls under the competence of the European Council, which takes decisions by unanimity.

On the other hand, points out Ionella Maria Tsiolan from the Wilfried Martens Center for European Studies in Brussels, the European Parliament’s resolution “has symbolic power and indirect importance as a recommendation to the Council, as it sends the message that this position is supported by the whole political spectrum”.

In international relations there is no clear procedure by which the supreme ruler of a foreign country is declared illegal. In theory, a relevant official declaration of non-recognition would suffice. Of course, “we have not seen anyone calling for the non-recognition of Putin and the withdrawal of his ambassador from Moscow,” says Gustav Gressel, an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). But on the other hand, he points out, no one sent congratulations for Putin’s victory in the “elections”, with the exception of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was criticized by the European Parliament.

“Strategic mistake” in relations with Moscow?

However, Roger Hilton, a fellow at the Slovakia-based GLOBSEC Institute, believes that the EU would make a strategic mistake with negative and irreversible consequences for Brussels’ geopolitical goals and for future decisions regarding the war in Ukraine. “Everyone agrees that Putin is detestable and that his power is based on corruption and fraud. However, the EU cannot selectively decide with whom to maintain relations and with whom not.”

Furthermore, the decision not to recognize Putin as the president of the Russian Federation “would significantly affect the EU’s ability to negotiate and promote issues of security and stability on our continent. With whom will Brussels negotiate, when the time comes to end the war in Ukraine? of the last elections in Russia, but not to sever its relations with Moscow.

Edited by: Yiannis Papadimitriou