President Vladimir V. Putin has secured his grip on power in Russia until 2030 after a heavily orchestrated presidential election lacking genuine competition.
Despite attempts by some Russians to protest the undemocratic nature of the vote, the Kremlin reported overwhelming support for Putin’s domestic control and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
While some citizens formed long lines at polling stations at noon as a form of protest, Ukraine responded with a symbolic gesture, launching exploding drones at Moscow and other targets.
However, the Kremlin disregarded these challenges and announced that Putin had won 87 percent of the vote, a higher margin than in his previous elections.
Following the announcement, Putin appeared on television for a lengthy victory celebration, including a late-night news conference where he mentioned the death of opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny, referring to it as an “unfortunate incident.”
Putin’s new six-year term will likely be used to solidify his political control in Russia and continue the conflict in Ukraine.
Western governments condemned the election as undemocratic, with President Biden’s National Security Council labeling it “not free nor fair.”
Despite international criticism, Putin remains defiant and prepared to escalate tensions with the West.
When asked about the possibility of a full-scale conflict with NATO, Putin replied, “I think that anything is possible in today’s world.”
The Kremlin sees these elections as crucial for Putin’s image as a popular leader and plans to elevate hard-line supporters of the war within the Russian government.
The true extent of public support for Putin in the election is difficult to gauge due to opposition candidates being barred and past instances of electoral fraud.
The election was also marked by a lack of transparency, with independent poll observers’ role significantly reduced.
More than five million votes reportedly came from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, where voting was monitored by armed Russian soldiers.
The extended three-day voting period made it easier for the Kremlin to manipulate turnout and obscure fraudulent activities.
Grigorii Golosov, a political scientist, described the election results as indicative of a highly controlled autocracy.
Putin’s extended rule raises concerns about Russia’s future trajectory and its ongoing confrontation with the West, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
Source-NYTimes
