Some Russian voters not only voted to express their dissatisfaction with incumbent President Vladimir Putin, but also went so far as to set ballot boxes on fire and film their vandalism.
Although Russian authorities arrested at least nine people on the first day of voting in the election, analysts and observers around the world undoubtedly believe that they will give Putin another term as leader, and that he will remain the Soviet dictator. He is the longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin.
Several people were caught on camera setting fire to polling stations and polling stations in protest. Elsewhere, a woman poured green dye into a ballot box, a man set off fireworks at a polling station and someone detonated an explosive device in Russian-occupied Ukraine, French newspaper Le Monde reported.
A woman who poured disinfectant into a ballot box at a Moscow polling station will be sentenced to three to five years in prison for shouting pro-Ukrainian slogans, Russian media BAZA reported.
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Video captures the moment a pensioner sets a polling station on fire in Moscow (East 2 West)
Despite the repeated use of green liquid to spoil ballots, do authorities think these incidents are part of a larger, organized effort and protest, or are they just random acts? He has not made it clear whether he considers this to be an incident. The use of green liquid could serve as a reference to late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was assaulted in 2017 by having green disinfectant poured on his face.
Prosecutors warned that the government would punish those involved in large gatherings and protests. The Associated Press reported more than a dozen incidents occurred on the first day, but it remains unclear whether all incidents led to arrests.
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A woman poured green liquid into a ballot box in Russia’s presidential election at a polling station in Moscow in protest. (East 2 West)
Voting will continue until Sunday, with more than a third of eligible voters having cast their votes by the time polls closed Friday night. Voting will take place both in-person and online, with online voting open 24 hours a day until 8pm local time on Sunday.
The United Nations Security Council held a meeting to protest the elections being held in the Russian-occupied region of Ukraine. “The UK condemns the election as fraudulent as Russia is conducting a sham election in Ukrainian territory temporarily under Russian control,” Britain said in a statement, adding that Britain’s permanent representative to the United Nations, James・Mr. Kariuki claimed, “These elections are fraudulent elections.” It’s a sham for the simple truth that you can’t hold a legitimate election in someone else’s country.”
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A woman votes at home during early voting in the Russian presidential election in the village of Ersenevo, Republic of Karelia, on March 10, 2024. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)
Mr Navalny, Putin’s most staunch opponent, collapsed and died in the Arctic colony last month, but prison officials said he suffered from “sudden death syndrome” but said he was working at a morgue. An anonymous paramedic made the claim to independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta. In Europe, he said he saw bruises on the body consistent with someone being held down during a seizure.
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The Associated Press labeled the remaining opposition candidates as “low-level opposition politicians who support the Kremlin line.”
European Council President Charles Michel on Friday half-heartedly congratulated Putin on his election victory before voting closed, saying it would be a “landslide” for Putin with “no opposition, no freedoms, no options.” Stated.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
