Archive July 31, 2025

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, claimed on Thursday that Vladimir Putin should encourage “regime change” in Russia, arguing that this would lead to further destabilization of Russia’s neighbors.

His remarks were made at a conference held by Finland to mark the 50th anniversary of the “Helsinki Final Act,” a treatise intended to boost cooperation between Cold War foes.

“I think Russia can be pressured to put a stop to this war,” he said. In an online address, Zelensky stated that it “started it” and that it can be “made to end it.”

Moscow will continue to try to destabilize neighboring countries even after the war is over, he added.

READ MORE:   Ukraine Next Week Promotes New Peace Talks With Russia

Additionally, the head of state of Ukraine stated that it was necessary to use Russian-frozen assets to good effect.

“We need to completely defy Russia’s war machine,” Zelensky said, “We need to put every frozen Russian asset, including the stolen wealth of corruption, to work defending against Russian aggression.”

He continued, “It’s time to confiscate Russian assets, not just freeze them, and use them to advance peace, not war.”

Zelensky gave an address from a distance, despite being given an invitation to attend the Helsinki conference in person.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated last week that the country would participate but not send high-level representatives there.

The Helsinki Final Act was signed in Helsinki’s capital on August 1, 1975 by the Eastern and Western blocs.

The creation of the OSCE, which brings together 57 nations, was the result of a historic agreement between 35 nations, including the Soviet Union and the United States.

Borderless inviolability ,

State sovereignty, non-use of force, and, most importantly, the inviolability of borders are among the key tenets of the agreement.

The participating States will refrain from attacking these borders at the present and future time, according to the treaty’s text, “because they regard all one another’s frontiers as well as the borders of all States in Europe as inviolable.”

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which has resulted in the most severe crisis in OSCE history, these commitments have been severely challenged.

Zelensky said on Thursday that one of Putin’s main ideas is that its borders should be where they are now, which is now popular in Russia.

Russia’s request to be exempt from the OSCE has been met with unsuccessful opposition.

However, Russian lawmakers earlier voted to forbid parliamentary assembly from the body because it was anti-Russian and discriminatory, despite the country being still listed as a member state on the organization’s official website.

After attracting around 1, 000 immigrants without visas, Finland closed its 1, 340-kilometer (830-mile) eastern border  with Russia in mid-December 2023.

The Kremlin has refuted Helsinki’s claim that the surge was the result of Russian interference.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been warned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop mobilizing underage voters ahead of the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) election in Ekiti State in advance of the governorship election in 2026.

In a stakeholders’ meeting held in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, INEC announced that in-person registration will begin on August 25, 2025, while the online phase of the CVR will begin on August 18, 2025.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, stated that the Commission would work with security forces to ensure a peaceful and credible exercise.

He urged political actors to abstain from organizing underage or ineligible people, warning them that they would face arrest and punishment as well as those who aided them.

“Let me repeat that political parties should not mobilize people who are not eligible, especially those who are under 18 for the CVR exercise. They will be detained and charged if found guilty. Security organizations have received information and will be involved. To verify eligibility, those who are in the voting age must present their birth certificates. Anyone who allegedly possesses fake documents will be detained, according to Omoseyindemi.

The REC explained that the CVR exercise will be conducted across INEC offices in the state’s 16 local government areas, as well as at designated centers, using technology to ensure transparency and compliance with electoral rules.

He claims that those who have just turned 18 are eligible voters as well as those who have lost their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and those who want to transfer or update voter information.

“Our democracy needs to be deepened,” says CVR. He continued, “It gives eligible citizens the opportunity to be included in the National Register of Voters, as well as allowing transfers, corrections of personal details, and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs,” he continued.

Oluwakemi Akomolede, the state director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), echoed the call for credible participation and stated that the organization would increase public education efforts to raise awareness.

She urged political parties and civil society organizations to support mobilization efforts and reiterated that “we are committed to raising awareness of the importance of the CVR as a means of increased electoral participation.”

Samson Itodo, the executive director of Yiaga Africa, has criticised the inconsistent laws governing local government elections and warned that the current situation is putting strain on democratic rule.

He accused state governors of using local governments as political extensions, claiming that they frequently use them as extensions of their authority. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Itodo stated on The Morning Brief on Channels Television that “the governors view local government as a tool for control.” They can use that power to gain political influence and control of state affairs.

It is said that “when they have control over the local government structure, it significantly affects their electoral success” as well as give them the opportunity to control the state’s resources.

He backed earlier remarks made by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who had criticized state electoral bodies for conducting elections that weren’t properly organized.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman consistently made the point, according to Itodo, and it supports the state’s opinion of conduct and the quality of the election.

The National Assembly proposed binding local elections in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Electoral Act, which regulates national elections, according to Itodo, claiming that these structural issues were a part of the national assembly’s decision.

He claims that irregularities, manipulation, and what he refers to as “local election banditry” are frequently the result of local elections.

He reacted to the constitutionality of election commissions appointed by unelected sole administrators, saying, “I don’t think this passes the legality or constitutional test.” This will likely be upheld in court, I hope.

He warned that civic disengagement would only only make things worse for the electoral process, even if it was legitimate.