As millions of Syrians gear up to vote in the second presidential elections since the ISIS overran their country in 2011, Western countries have lined up to question their right to elect their leaders.
In a joint statement ahead of the elections on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Britain and the Untied States argued that the elections “will neither be free nor fair.”
They said the government of President Bashar al-Assad acted against the U.N. Resolution 2254 of 2015 that endorsed a roadmap for peace in the war-torn Middle Eastern country.
“For an election to be credible, all Syrians should be allowed to participate, including internally displaced Syrians, refugees and members of the diaspora, in a safe and neutral environment,” the nations said. “Without these elements, this fraudulent election does not represent any progress towards a political settlement.”
The five ministers argued that Damascus was not allowing U.N. supervision over the elections.
This is while the Assad government has invited election observers from Russia, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador and Armenia.
Russia, which has been helping Syria’s fight against the ISIS, has increased its troop levels at time of the elections.
Ironically, Washington, London, Paris, Berlin and Rome have backed the Syrian “opposition,” which besides the ISIS comprises affiliates of Al Qaeda.
Some diasporas and displaced Syrians have also criticized the U.S and its allies for closing down Syrian embassies as Assad’s representatives and preventing them from casting their ballots in the elections.
The five countries are also part of the U.S.-led coalition that in 2014 invaded Syria without a mandate from the U.N. and continues to carry out airstrikes that have on many occasions targeted Syrian military forces and civilians.
