Questionable Victory: Putin's Re‑Election and Alleged Papal Congratulation

The echoes of the so-called presidential elections in Russia have not subsided. Unofficial reports from Kremlin media suggest that Pope Francis allegedly congratulated Vladimir Putin on his victory. The Vatican has not confirmed the information.

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Many reports from Russian media are likely not true. Such reports may be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.

The matter was reported in a conversation with the Kremlin news agency RIA Novosti by Leonid Sevastianov.

The leader of the World Union of Old Believers cited a personal conversation with Francis.

On Sunday, the three-day "presidential elections" in Russia concluded, in which Putin - according to the Central Election Commission data - won over 87 percent of the votes.

"Another presidential term for Vladimir Putin will further unleash him," believes Latvian political scientist Karlis Bukovskis, head of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

"The new 'cycle' of Putin in the presidential chair of Russia will most likely lead to an increase in aggression against Ukraine," assesses Bukovskis, quoted by the LSM portal. According to him, Putin will "with greater certainty bomb" the country.

"In this situation, he realises that the war can continue for another three to four years, and then it's time to wonder how to end it," adds the expert.

Bukovskis does not rule out that in the next elections, Putin could win even 99 percent of the votes because "the less legal the elections, the higher the result." The political scientist acknowledges at the same time that even without fraud, more than half of the voters would probably vote for Putin due to the strong influence of state propaganda and the lack of alternatives, especially after the death of Alexei Navalny.

"It's terrifying how one system, one country could so wash the brains of its citizens," he concludes.

Source: RIA Novosti/PAP/WP