Putin’s election campaign ‘racist’

XENOPHOBIC: ‘VOTE OR HAVE AFRICANS IN THE ARMY’

Message in viral video meant to ‘ensure Putin’s win’ in Sunday’s crucial polls.

Moscow

Vote in Russia’s presidential election this Sunday or get hyperinflation and Africans in the army. That is the surreal message in a viral video meant to encourage people to vote in an election which polls show Vladimir Putin is on track to comfortably win.

While Putin has dominated the country’s political landscape for the last 18 years, the Kremlin and its allies are still pulling out all the stops to ensure high voter turnout.

The clip, which has drawn accusations of racism and homophobia in some quarters, has been publicised by state TV and watched 6 million times online.

Alexander Kazakov, a pro-Putin political consultant who circulated the clip, said he wanted to ensure Putin’s win was utterly convincing.

“Only then will Putin be able to conduct the best domestic and foreign policy,” said Kazakov.

As Putin, 65, prepares to serve what may be his last six-year term, Russian media, citing Kremlin sources, say advisors want a thumping 70% turnout with 70% of votes for Putin.

While Putin is genuinely popular, real competition is absent and authorities see turnout as a vital barometer of legitimacy. Critics say efforts to boost turnout are cynical attempts to help Putin further entrench.

“The authorities’ main task at this election is to ensure high turnout to create the semblance of legitimacy,” says opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Putin needs healthy turnout to keep potential challengers at bay and supporters happy, says Chris Weafer of economic and political consultancy Macro Advisory.

“As long as Putin can show strong public support, his place among the elites and within the Kremlin is safe,” said Weafer.

Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the turnout campaign was “absolutely objective” and criticism of it groundless.

Putin is backed by state TV, the ruling party and enjoys an approval rating of around 80%, but the Kremlin cannot take high turnout for granted. – Reuters