President Vladimir Putin appears poised to prolong his rule by another six years following a clampdown on dissent as voters in Russia participate in a three-day presidential election.
The election unfolds amidst a severe crackdown by Putin, resulting in the suppression of independent media outlets and prominent rights organizations, consolidating his grip on the political landscape. This occurs amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, entering its third year.
Voting commenced on Friday and will continue through Sunday across Russia’s 11 time zones, including regions of Ukraine that have been illegally annexed. The first polling stations opened in the easternmost regions of Chukotka and Kamchatka at 8 am local time.
With Putin seeking his fifth term with minimal opposition, the election lacks suspense. His political adversaries are either incarcerated or living in exile, with prominent figure Alexei Navalny recently perishing in a remote Arctic penal colony.
The ballot includes three other candidates, albeit from insignificant opposition parties that align with the Kremlin’s agenda. Expectations for a free and fair election are minimal, given the limited choices available to voters and restrictions on independent monitoring.
Observers anticipate little room for impartial oversight, as only registered candidates or state-affiliated bodies can deploy observers to polling stations.
With balloting spread over three days across nearly 100,000 polling stations nationwide, independent monitoring faces significant challenges.
