Andrea Palmeri
Versions of names: Андреа Пальмери
Italy
Andrea Palmeri, a right-wing extremist from Lucca, Italy, fled to Russia after accumulating convictions for various crimes including violence and drug offences. He became involved with Russian militant forces in eastern Ukraine, fighting alongside pro-Russian paramilitaries and later serving the Luhansk People's Republic in various capacities. Despite being sentenced in absentia by Italian authorities in 2021, Palmeri remains out of reach of the judiciary, continuing to advocate for Russia's cause and resisting "American imperialism" on social media.
Corresponding elections
illegitimate
During the “presidential elections” held in Russia from 15-17 March 2024, Vladislav Davankov (“New People” party), Nikolay Kharitonov (Communist Party), Vladimir Putin, and Leonid Slutsky (Liberal-Democratic Party) competed for the presidency. Enabled to run yet again by controversial constitutional amendments effective 4 July 2020, Putin dominated the “elections” together with his controlled “opposition” excluding genuine opposition figures. These “elections” occurred under Putin’s regime control, both within Russia and illegally in occupied Ukrainian territories, including Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, ARC and Sevastopol.