Russian President Vladimir Putin has secured a landslide victory in the election, drawing criticism for its perceived lack of democratic legitimacy. Putin, who received around 87% of the vote with 60% of precincts counted as per the information provided by Russia’s Central Election Commission, is set to become Russia’s longest-serving leader in over 200 years, surpassing Joseph Stalin.
In a post-election news conference, Putin framed the outcome as a triumph over intimidation and suppression, particularly from the West regarding the invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized that no one has succeeded in intimidating Russia and that such efforts will continue to fail in the future.
The election took place against a backdrop of heightened tensions, with prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny having died in prison recently and other critics of Putin either incarcerated or in exile. Despite widespread international criticism, including from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine, Putin’s victory underscores his firm grip on power and a resounding, if questionable, mandate for his efforts to assert Russia’s influence on the global stage.
Initial results indicated that Communist candidate Nikolay Kharitonov secured second place with just under 4% of the vote, while newcomer Vladislav Davankov came in third and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky fourth.
Election officials stated that nationwide turnout reached 74.22% when the polls closed, exceeding the levels seen in 2018, which stood at 67.5%.
