Despite facing harsh suppression, critics were able to make their voices heard, as Putin celebrated what is nearly a complete victory in the election.
The Russian leader, President Vladimir Putin, reveled in a clear win on Monday, which was expected from the start. Partial election results highlight Putin’s complete dominance over the country’s political system.
He is poised to continue his nearly 25-year reign for an additional six years..
At 71 years old, Putin praised the initial results as a sign of confidence and optimism in him, while opponents viewed them as further proof of the predetermined nature of the vote.
war in Ukraine has been stifled. Independent media have been crippled. His fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison
In the previous month, many prominent critics have passed away, been incarcerated, or forced to flee.
Apart from the limited options for voters, there were also severe restrictions on independent oversight of the election. According to the Central Election Commission of Russia, Putin obtained approximately 87% of the vote, with nearly 98% of precincts reporting their results.
However, on X, previously referred to as Twitter, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron expressed, “This is not a representation of free and fair elections.”
According to the AFP, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Russian leader Putin as a “dictator” and stated that he is “intoxicated by his position of power.” Zelenskyy also expressed his belief that Putin will stop at nothing to maintain his own authority.
The act of criticizing Putin was able to avoid being silenced.
Despite limited opportunity for dissent, Russian citizens gathered at polling places around midday on Sunday, the final day of the election, seemingly following the opposition’s urged effort to voice their disapproval of the leader.
At that moment, there was a noticeable increase in the number of people waiting in lines outside various polling stations in Russia and its embassies globally.
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Navalny, was one of the individuals who responded to the call. She waited in the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin for over five hours. She stated to journalists that she wrote her husband’s name on her ballot.
Carsten Koall / picture alliance via Getty Images
When asked if she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya stated: “I kindly request that you cease asking for any messages on behalf of Mr. Putin, as there can be no discussions or dealings with him. He has been deemed a killer and a criminal.”
However, Putin dismissed the impact of the apparent demonstration.
During a press conference held after polls closed, the speaker expressed approval of the opposition’s call for voting at noon, stating it was meant to be a protest.
In an exceptional manner, Putin specifically mentioned Navalny by his name for the very first time during the press conference.
According to The Associated Press, a group of Russians in Moscow and St. Petersburg who were waiting to vote stated that they were participating in the protest. However, it was uncertain if everyone in the line was also taking part.
Vadim, a voter from Moscow, expressed his desire for change, but also acknowledged that it may be unlikely. Like many others, he chose not to disclose his full name due to safety reasons.
In the meantime, followers of Navalny made their way to his burial site in Moscow, with some even bringing voting papers on which his name was inscribed.
Meduza, Russia’s biggest independent news outlet, published photos of ballots it received from its readers, with “killer” inscribed on one and “The Hague awaits you” on another. The latter refers to an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court.
Numerous individuals were apprehended in locations such as Moscow and St. Petersburg for attempting to ignite fires or trigger explosions at voting locations. Others were held for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.
Co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, Stanislav Andreychuk, stated that Russians faced searches upon entering polling stations and there were efforts to inspect completed ballots before they were placed into the ballot box. One incident also involved police demanding to open a ballot box to remove a ballot.
There was limited space for individuals to share their opinions. Despite this, at noon, there were long queues outside diplomatic buildings in London, Berlin, Paris, and other cities where there are significant Russian populations. Many of these individuals had relocated following Putin’s incursion into Ukraine.
“I believe it is crucial to make use of any opportunity available to protest,” said Tatiana, a 23-year-old voter in Tallinn, Estonia, who joined the protest.
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Supporters of Putin also expressed their sentiments clearly.
Several individuals informed the AP that they were content to cast their ballots in support of Putin, which is not unexpected in a nation where state-run television consistently promotes and praises the Russian leader, and expressing any dissenting views can be dangerous.
According to Dmitry Sergienko, who voted in Moscow, he is content with the current situation and hopes for its continuation.
Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.
According to a report by AFP, the heads of Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Bolivia expressed their congratulations to Putin on his re-election. Likewise, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also congratulated Putin, as reported by Reuters.
Source: cbsnews.com