Opinion polls show Putin winning by 87%

In his fifth term, 87.97% It appears that Vladimir Putin will win, according to the first official results of the elections in Russia.

According to what an official in Moscow said. More than eight million citizens voted online In this presidential election.

It is the first time electronic voting has been used in a Russian presidential election, and one of the participants was Vladimir Putin, who was filmed voting with a single click.

This was said by the head of the independent monitoring group “Golos” (Voice). The use of electronic voting has made entire elections less open to public scrutiny.

This system was used in the parliamentary elections three years ago in seven electoral districts, and opposition candidates said at the time that it cost them victory.

Russia: Electoral process amid protests

Earlier, a group of those close to the late Russian opposition leader met Alexei Navalny Reported that this series was observed Protests Against the expected re-election of the Russian President.

In the Russian Far East, in Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Irkutsk and other Siberian cities, citizens joined the campaign. “Noon against Putin” Navalny's associates also showed Via live broadcast on YouTube.

In the aforementioned protests, Russian citizens turned against Putin They flocked in large numbers to the polling stations From their region they can either vote for one of the other three candidates against Putin, who is widely expected to win by a very large margin while the others fall back. ballot papers are invalid, Writing Navalny's name on it.

The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta described this protest as a “protest.” “Navalny's political testament”, Because it was one of the measures he proposed in January 2024.

“There's very little hope, but if you can do something (like this), do it. There is nothing left of democracy“, “And her face was blurred out by Navalny's team,” said a young woman at an unnamed polling station. Another young woman at another polling station, whose identity was also not revealed, said she voted for the “least controversial” of the three candidates running against Putin.

Violent reactions to the elections

The White House announced this Russian elections 'clearly neither free nor fair'Putin also imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running in elections against him, in his comment on the Russian electoral process.

This was stated by Volodymyr Zelensky The “election tradition” in Russia lacks legislation.

“It is clear to the whole world that this person, as has happened so often in history, is simply drunk on power and is doing everything to rule forever.” The Ukrainian president said in a message published on social networks.

the British Foreign Office He issued a statement regarding the electoral process in Russia, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

“By holding illegal elections on Ukrainian territory, Russia is showing that it is not interested in finding a path to peace. The UK will continue to provide humanitarian, financial and military assistance to Ukrainians who are defending their democracy,” he added.The statement said.

His comment was in the same context German Foreign MinistryTalking about “rigged elections”.

“Russia’s sham elections are neither free nor fair, and the result will surprise no one. Putin’s rule is authoritarian, based on censorship, repression and violence. The ‘elections’ in the occupied territories of Ukraine are invalid and another violation of international law.”

respectively, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs talk about “Conditions of extreme repression against society.”

“From March 15 to 17, 2024, the so-called presidential elections were held in Russia. Voting took place in conditions of extreme repression against society, which makes free and democratic choice impossible.