Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that enables holding of elections, following consultations between the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Defense Ministry and Federal Security Service (FSB), on any territory where martial law has been declared.

Previously, Russian legislation didn’t allow for holding federal, regional or local elections or referendums in such areas. The new rules stipulate, however, that this restriction doesn’t apply to those cases where the decision to call an election or referendum is made by the CEC after consultations with the Defense Ministry and the FSB.

In such a situation, elections and referendums may be held either on the entire territory under martial law or on just a portion of it.