For the 2020 local elections, based on information and opinions received from the regional civil-military administrations in the government-controlled regions affected by the conflict (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts), on 8 August 2020, the CEC decided not to hold the elections in 18 territorial communities within those two regions. The decision effectively disenfranchised some 500,000 voters. As the CEC had essentially subscribed to the conclusions of the civil-military administrations in making its decision on not holding elections in the concerned territorial communities, the decision was de facto taken by the civil-military administrations. Nevertheless, public criticism that the decision was unsubstantiated and driven by political factors was deflected to the CEC, which holds the final decision-making authority on the matter.  The CEC Resolution No. 161 of 8 August 2020 on the impossibility of holding local elections in certain territories was challenged before the administrative courts and was overturned by the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeals, by decision of 11 May 2021; the Court stated that Article 205(1) of the Election Code authorised the CEC to restrict the conduct of elections, but only on the condition that the impossibility of holding elections was established in accordance with a clear procedure set by law. That decision has been appealed to the Supreme Court which on 12 August 2021 opened cassation proceedings but has not decided on the substance of the appeal to date.