(AP) — Russians flocked outside polling stations at noon Sunday, the final day of the presidential election, apparently heeding opposition calls to protest President Vladimir Putin with a vote that offered no real alternative. Ta.
President Vladimir Putin is poised to extend his almost quarter-century rule for another six years after a brutal crackdown on the opposition — with 24% of the electorate in an early return announced after polls closed in Russia. The results showed that the vote count was close to 88%. Central Election Commission of Russia.
The election took place amidst attacks by Ukrainian missiles and drones inside Russia, which left several people dead. The polls are held in a tightly controlled environment, with Putin facing only competition from three of his nominal rivals and suppressing any public criticism of him or the war in Ukraine.
Putin’s most violent political rival, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in prison or in exile. Not only do voters have virtually no choice, but independent oversight of elections is extremely limited.
Navalny’s associates called on those dissatisfied with President Putin and the war to come to the polls at midday on Sunday to protest. At the time, lines appeared to swell at many polling stations in Russia and outside Russian embassies around the world.
Among those heeding the call was Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya, who joined the long line at the Russian embassy in Berlin, where a section of the crowd applauded and chanted her name. .
She waited in line for more than five hours and told reporters after voting that she had written her late husband’s name on her ballot.
Asked if he had a message for Putin, Navalnaya said: “Don’t ask me or anyone to give you a message to Putin. There can be no negotiations or anything with Putin, because he is a murderer.” Because it’s a gang.”
Protests erupt at polling stations across Russia on the final day of voting, with dozens arrestedhttps://t.co/rrb9DGrTx4
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 17, 2024
Some Russians waiting to vote in Moscow and St. Petersburg told The Associated Press they were participating in the protests, but questions remain about whether everyone pictured in line was participating. could not be confirmed.
A woman named Yulia, who joined the line at a polling station around noon in Moscow, told The Associated Press that it was her first time voting.
“Even if my vote doesn’t change anything, my conscience is clear … for the future I want to see in this country,” she said. She, like others, did not give her full name out of concern for her safety.
Another Moscow voter, Vadim, who also gave only his first name, said he was hoping for change, but added: “Unfortunately it’s unlikely.”
Russian independent media, citing an arrest warrant issued for President Putin on war crimes charges, published images of defaced ballots posted by voters, one of which had the words “murderer and thief” One of the cards said, “Waiting for you in The Hague.” Hold him responsible for kidnapping children from Ukraine.
Still, some told The Associated Press they were willing to vote for Mr. Putin.
Dmitry Sergeyenko, who voted in Moscow, said: “I am happy with everything and want everything to remain as it is.”
As Russians went to vote, massive Ukrainian drone attacks across Russia on Sunday were yet another reminder of the challenges facing the Kremlin.
The governor of Ukraine’s nearby Belgorod region said three people were killed in the attack, and Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had shot down more than 100 Ukrainian drones and missiles over the weekend.
Russia reports multiple attacks from Ukraine during presidential electionhttps://t.co/LGcarWHJUt
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 16, 2024
Voting took place over three days in 11 time zones across the vast country, at polling stations in illegally annexed areas of Ukraine, and online. Voting closed in Russia on Sunday night, but voting continued in some embassies around the world.
Despite strict controls, dozens of incidents of vandalism were reported at polling stations during the voting period.
In Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities, several people were arrested for trying to start fires or detonate explosives at voting stations, and others were detained for throwing green disinfectant or ink into ballot boxes.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, which is chaired by President Vladimir Putin, called for tougher punishments for those who vandalized polling stations and said they should be charged with treason.
Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election monitoring group, said the pressure from law enforcement on voters has reached unprecedented levels.
He said in a social media post that Russians were searched at polling stations, their ballots were inspected before voting, and police were required to open their ballot boxes to remove them.
“I have never seen so much absurdity in my life,” Andreychuk wrote on the messaging app Telegram, adding that he started monitoring Russian elections 20 years ago.
Videos shared on social media showed an armed man wearing camouflage clothing entering a polling station and harassing Russians while they were voting.
Ivan Zhdanov, chairman of Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation, said the opposition’s call for protests had been successful.
“This action showed that there is another Russia and that there are people who oppose Putin.”
Large lines also formed around noon outside Russian diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Belgrade and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left Russia after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Ta.
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 17: Russian President Vladimir Putin bathes in Ukrainian blood during a protest in front of the Russian embassy during the Russian elections on March 17, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. A mock voting jar containing shredded ballots stands in front of the portrait. The Russian presidential election, which is being held without a strong opposition candidate being recognized, concludes today with President Vladimir Putin’s re-election almost certain. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Demonstrators in Berlin displayed an image of Putin in a bath of blood, holding a Ukrainian flag next to shredded ballots in a ballot box.
Russian state television and officials said high participation was seen on overseas routes. The Russian embassy in Germany posted a video of the Berlin procession on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption: “Together we are stronger – vote for Russia!”
In Tallinn, 23-year-old Tatiana said she had come to join the protest at midday, as hundreds of people snaked in line along the Estonian capital’s cobbled streets leading to the Russian embassy.
“If you have the option to protest, I think it’s important to take advantage of every opportunity,” she said, speaking only by her first name, citing personal safety reasons.
Liberal politician Boris Nadezhdin, who tried to run on an anti-war platform but was barred from running by election authorities, expressed hope that many Russians would vote against President Putin. did.
“I believe that the Russian people today have an opportunity to show their true attitude towards what is happening by voting not for President Putin, but for other candidates and in other ways,” he said after the vote. That’s exactly what I did.” Dolgoprudny on the outskirts of Moscow.
OVD-Info, an organization that monitors political arrests, said 80 people were arrested in 20 cities across Russia on Sunday.
