Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to strengthen his grip on energy in an election that’s positive to offer him a landslide victory, at the same time as hundreds of opponents staged a symbolic noon rally at polling stations.
Supporters of Putin's fiercest political foe, Alexey Navalny, who died in an Arctic jail final month, known as on Russians to come back out for a “Midday In opposition to Putin” demonstration to indicate their dissent in opposition to a pacesetter they go as a corrupt autocrat.
Navalny's associates, together with his widow Yulia Navalnaya, have urged these sad with Putin, 71, or the continued battle with Ukraine to protest by coming to the polls at midday on Sunday, a technique not too long ago endorsed by Navalny. earlier than his dying.
Crew Navalny described it as successful, releasing pictures and movies of individuals crowding close to polling stations in cities throughout Russia round noon.
At a polling station in southwest Moscow, Leonid, an 18-year-old pupil, mentioned “there weren't many individuals” collaborating within the protest, however he was “simply glad that some individuals got here”.
The polling station was at a college the place Navalny scored his highest consequence – 70 p.c – in his failed bid to turn out to be mayor of Moscow in 2013. He later tried to run in opposition to Putin within the 2018 presidential election. , however his software was rejected.
After casting his vote at a polling station the place Navalny was voting, IT employee Alexander mentioned he got here as a result of this was one of many few methods he might protest.
“If I didn't do that, I’d really feel like a coward,” the 29-year-old mentioned.
Elena, 52, mentioned individuals had been “too scared” to exit in giant numbers. “I don't need Russia, my homeland, to be like this… I like my nation; I need it to be free.”
Putin, who got here to energy in 1999, is ready to win a brand new six-year time period that can see him surpass Josef Stalin and turn out to be Russia's longest-serving chief for greater than 200 years.
Whereas Putin's re-election shouldn’t be unsure given his management of Russia and the absence of any actual challengers, the previous KGB spy needs to indicate that he has the assist of the Russians.
A number of hours earlier than the polls had been attributable to shut at 18:00 GMT, nationwide turnout surpassed 2018 ranges of 67.5 p.c.
