Putin clinches presidency amid global outcry over election integrity
The Central Electoral Commission announced that after counting all votes, Vladimir Putin won the presidential "election" with 87.28% of the votes. A significant 77.44% of eligible Russians cast their ballots. Countries around the world do not intend to congratulate the dictator or acknowledge the results of this spectacle.
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The voting has concluded, and the winner is chosen. The only surprise was the "low" percentage Putin secured in the three-day elections. After tallying all votes, it was found that the Russian dictator secured 87.28% of the votes, with an impressive 77.44% of the electorate participating.
Putin’s overwhelming farce
The results of the three opponents are of little consequence – only one managed to exceed the 4% threshold. The others received slightly more than 3% of the votes.
Tsar Putin is set to lead Russia for a fifth term, striving to become the longest-reigning despot in Russian history.
International response to the Russian plebiscite
The voting in Russia happened not just within its recognized borders but also in the territories of Ukraine illegally annexed by the dictator. Workers from across Russia were transported to polling stations, often casting their votes under the watchful eyes of soldiers, police officers, or security services.
Western countries have made it clear they will not congratulate Putin.
"On 15-17 March in Russia, so-called presidential elections were held under extreme repression and obstacles to free democratic choice" - the statement from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads. "These 'elections' cannot be considered legitimate, free, or fair" - it emphasized.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron noted on Sunday that the presidential elections in Russia, securing another term for Vladimir Putin, did not appear to be free and fair.
"Sham elections", "a facade of elections"
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated on Monday that the facade of Russian presidential elections, held under unprecedented civil and political rights restrictions, cannot be acknowledged as legitimate elections.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the oppressive backdrop of the elections, emphasizing the increasing repression against "any form of regime opposition" and "ever-greater limitations on freedom of speech". The Ministry condemned the so-called "elections" conducted in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will not congratulate Vladimir Putin following his so-called victory in the presidential elections - his spokesperson announced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin labeled the event as "sham elections", which were "neither free nor fair".
The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, commented that the presidential elections in Russia "were neither free nor appropriate". Anti-Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny was "barred from the elections through assassination," he added.
