Putin’s referendum landslide is ‘huge lie’

President Vladimir Putin is set to rule Russia for another 16 years after sweeping to victory in a referendum that was decried as a ‘‘huge lie’’ by his biggest domestic critic. Officials said 77.9 per cent of voters had backed constitutional amendments that will allow Putin, 67, to run for two additional terms of office up to 2036, when he will be 83. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, hailed the results as a ‘‘triumph’’ and proof that Putin was backed by the overwhelming number of voters. The referendum came after Putin’s approval ratings fell to a historic low of 59 per cent. Alexei Navalny, Russia’s best-known opposition politician, said the results were a ‘‘huge lie that have nothing in common with the opinion of the Russian people. This vote is invalid and illegal.’’ He accused Putin of seeking to rule for life.