Putin celebrates victory as Western leaders denounce ‘illegal’ poll

Early on Monday, Vladimir Putin celebrated a victory in an election where the outcome seemed predetermined, reflecting his absolute grip on Russia’s political landscape. With nominal opponents and a crackdown on dissent, Putin is on track to extend his rule, which is nearing a quarter of a century, by another six years. Despite limited avenues for dissent, large numbers of Russians appeared at polling stations on the election’s final day, Sunday at noon, responding to an opposition call to demonstrate their discontent with the president.

Putin interpreted the decisive early results as a sign of trust and hope in his leadership, despite criticisms of the election’s predictability. “We have always been united in facing challenges, and our resolve and self-awareness have never been dampened,” Putin remarked in a post-election gathering, emphasizing the resilience and unity of the Russian people.

Criticism of Putin or his military actions in Ukraine has been effectively silenced, with independent media stifled and prominent critics like Alexei Navalny, who recently died in prison, either jailed or exiled. The election offered voters little choice, with independent monitoring severely restricted, and preliminary results showed Putin receiving 87% of the vote from nearly all counted precincts.

International reactions were mixed, with leaders from countries like North Korea, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan congratulating Putin, while Western officials criticized the election as fraudulent. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron expressed skepticism about the election’s legitimacy on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

In response to a protest strategy by Navalny’s supporters, long queues were observed at polling stations and Russian embassies worldwide. Among the protesters was Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, who waited over five hours in Berlin to cast her vote, symbolically writing her late husband’s name on the ballot. Navalnaya dismissed any notion of negotiating with Putin, labeling him a killer and a gangster.

Putin downplayed the protest’s impact, ironically praising the participation as a positive sign of opposition. This marked a rare occasion where he directly mentioned Navalny by name.

Reports from voters in Moscow and St. Petersburg indicated some participated in the protest, though verification was challenging. Despite the odds, individuals like Vadim expressed hope for change, albeit with skepticism.

As tributes flowed to Navalny’s grave in Moscow, Meduza, an independent news outlet, shared images of ballots marked with messages of dissent against Putin. Meanwhile, some Russians expressed satisfaction with Putin’s leadership, underscoring the influence of state media and the risks associated with dissent.

The election, extended over three days and including votes from annexed Ukrainian regions and online, was marred by incidents of arrests and disruptions at polling stations. Independent observers reported security measures and attempts to influence the voting process, highlighting the constrained environment for electoral expression.

Despite this, significant numbers of Russians abroad participated in the voting process, seizing the opportunity to voice their opposition amidst a backdrop of limited protest options.