Putin set to extend his rule for six more years
Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to extend his near quarter of a century of rule for six more years as early returns announced after polls closed in Russia showed he had nearly 88 per cent of the vote with 24 per cent of the precincts counted, according to Russia's Central Election Commission.
The election took place after a relentless crackdown on dissent - and amid attacks within Russia by Ukrainian missiles and drones, which have killed several people.
Polling happened in a tightly controlled environment where Mr Putin faced competition from only three token rivals and any public criticism of him or his war in Ukraine is stifled.
Mr Putin's fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. Beyond the fact that voters have virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited.
Mr Navalny's associates had urged those unhappy with Mr Putin or the war to protest by coming to the polls at noon yesterday - and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.
Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalny's widow, who joined a long line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin as some in the crowd applauded and chanted her name.
She spent more than five hours in the line and told reporters after casting her vote that she wrote her late husband's name on the ballot.
Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Ms Navalnaya replied: "Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because he's a killer, he's a gangster."
The OVD-INFO group that monitors political arrests said 80 people were arrested in 20 cities across Russia yesterday.
The three-day election that began on Friday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where there are no real alternatives to Mr Putin, no public criticism of him or his war in Ukraine.
Mr Putin, 71, faces three token election rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of his 24-year rule or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
The president boasted of Russian battlefield successes in the run-up to the vote, but a Ukrainian drone attack across Russia yesterday sent a reminder of challenges faced by Moscow.
Russia’s wartime economy has proven resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. The Russian defence industry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition.
Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said he voted for Mr Putin: “I am happy with everything and want everythingto continue as it is now .” Another Moscow voter, who identified himself only by his first name Vadim, said he hopes for change, but added: “Unfortunately, it’s unlikely.”