In a widely anticipated outcome, Russian President Vladimir Putin clinched a fifth term with an overwhelming 87.29% of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission. The elections, described by many as predetermined due to the suppression of opposition and the lack of credible challengers, saw Putin amass his highest vote tally ever, with nearly 76 million votes cast in his favor. Critics and independent monitors have raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process, highlighting the limited choice for voters and restricted independent election monitoring.
Despite the stringent control over political dissent, small acts of protest were visible across Russia. Notably, supporters of the late opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died in prison under mysterious circumstances, gathered outside polling stations and his grave to express their discontent. Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, made a symbolic gesture by writing her late husband’s name on her ballot at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, echoing the sentiment of those who see no room for negotiation with what they perceive as Putin’s oppressive regime.
The election’s outcome was met with mixed reactions internationally. While leaders from China, North Korea, and several other nations promptly congratulated Putin, Western countries dismissed the vote as a sham. The UK and the US particularly criticized the election’s legitimacy, with the US State Department spokesperson explicitly stating the refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the elections conducted in occupied Ukrainian territories. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Putin as a “dictator” intoxicated with power, underscoring the deepening rift between Russia and the West.
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