Putin poised to rule Russia after an election with no other real choices
Threeday election happened in a tightly controlled environment where no criticism of Putin or Ukraine war was allowed; his fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile
Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to extend nearly a quarter century of rule for six more years on Sunday after wrapping up an election that gave voters no real alternatives to an autocrat who has ruthlessly cracked down on dissent.
The threeday election that began on Friday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where no public criticism of Mr. Putin or his war in Ukraine is allowed.
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.
Navalny’s associates have urged those unhappy with Mr. Putin or the war to protest by coming to the polls at noon on Sunday, a strategy endorsed by Navalny shortly before his death. Team Navalny described it as a success, releasing pictures and videos of people crowding near polling stations in various cities across Russia around noon.
The 71yearold Russian leader faces three token rivals from Kremlinfriendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of his 24year rule or his fullscale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Mr. Putin has boasted of Russian battlefield successes in the runup to the vote, but a massive Ukrainian drone attack across Russia early on Sunday sent a reminder of challenges faced by Moscow.
The Russian Defence Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four near the Russian capital.
Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast country’s 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. More than 60% of eligible voters had cast ballots as of early Sunday.
Navalny’s associates broadcast footage with comments by those who turned up at the polls at noon to protest against Mr. Putin, their faces blurred to protect their identities.
Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported.
Authorities in Russia have detained some 74 people across the country for protest actions linked to the presidential election.