President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, the 17th of March, won the record-breaking victory in Russia’s post-Soviet history, consolidating his power in an “election” that he believed showed Moscow was right to stand up to the West and send troops to Ukraine, reports Reuters.
Putin, 71, will begin another six-year term, which, if completed, would make him Russia’s longest-serving leader in 200 years.
According to polls conducted by the Foundation for Public Opinion Polls (FOM), Putin won 87.8% of the vote, the highest result in Russia’s post-Soviet history. According to the Russian Centre for Public Opinion Research (VCIOM), Putin won 87% of the vote. The first official results showed that the polls were accurate.
Communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov came second with just under 4%, with newcomer Vladislav Davankov third and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky fourth, partial results showed.
In a speech in Moscow, Putin thanked people for their trust, promised to focus on Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine and to make the Russian army stronger.
Putin attributed the high turnout at the election to the dramatic situation and the fact that Russia is defending its development with weapons in its hands. In Putin’s opinion, the Russian citizens have realized with their hearts that they are in demand, that the country needs… pic.twitter.com/p26rQg4tDb
— NOELREPORTS ?? ?? (@NOELreports) March 17, 2024
“We have many tasks ahead of us. But when we are united – no matter who wants to intimidate us, oppress us – no one in history has succeeded, no one succeeds now, and no one will succeed in the future,” Putin was quoted as saying.
Supporters chanted “Putin, Putin, Putin” when he appeared on stage and “Russia, Russia, Russia” after his speech.
Hundreds of opposition supporters in Russia and abroad protested Putin
at polling stations in a “Noon against Putin” inspired by Alexei Navalny.
Putin rejected these protests, asserting the democratic nature of the elections, and in his first comments on Navalny’s death he called it a “sad event” and confirmed that he was ready to carry out a prisoner exchange involving the opposition politician.
By 18.00 GMT, the countrywide turnout reached 74.22%, exceeding the 2018 level (67.5%). Although no independent count of opposition demonstrators was carried out, higher turnout was observed in major cities at noon, especially among younger voters. Although some admitted to protesting, there were no outward signs.
At least 74 arrests were made across Russia on Sunday, according to OVD-Info, an organisation that monitors the crackdown on dissent. Separate incidents of protest took place in the previous two days, when some Russians set fire to voting booths or poured paint into ballot boxes.
??? Compilation of people setting fire to polling stations & destroying ballot boxes in Russia. pic.twitter.com/OvEDPrJ0yu
— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) March 17, 2024
Opponents also posted pictures of damaged ballot sheets and slogans attacking Putin.
Aldo read: Russia begins voting in “elections” that Putin is certain to win