Free but unfair elections give me headaches.
In some countries, there are elections that are at least moderately free, and reasonably fair. In those countries, the government clearly has a mandate.
In some countries, the government would lose a free election, but holds power by force. In those countries, the government clearly does not have a mandate, and should be replaced if possible.
I understand these circumstances, and am confident what the right things to think about them are.
But there are also quite lot of countries where the government is popular, and would win a free election if it were held tomorrow, but maintains its popularity by abusing the apparatus of state to spread its propaganda and to suppress its opponents; if there were a free *and fair* election after all sides had had equal access to the right to campaign for a significant period of time, it might well lose. But, at the moment, it does still govern by the will of the people.
And I don't think there are easy conclusions to draw about that situation.