Russians will vote starting this Friday in the presidential elections three daysmarked by the offensive in Ukraine and in which President Vladimir Putin, in power for 24 years, He is guaranteed a new six-year term.
Putin, 71 years old and in power since 2000 as president or prime minister, seeks to turn the elections into a show of support for his military offensive in Ukraine, who turned two last month.
Polling stations opened at 08:00 local time on the Kamchatka Peninsulain the Far East of Russia, a country with 11 time zonesand the shops in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave located between Poland and Lithuania, will close on Sunday at 8pm.
Voting also takes place in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine and Transnistriaa pro-Russian separatist territory located in Moldova.
A voter searches for his data in the register of a voting center. Photo: EFEPutin’s more than likely victory in these elections without any real opposition will allow him to remain in power until 2030longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century.
As voting begins, both Moscow and Kiev They reported the deaths of civilians in the latest bombings. In recent months, the Kremlin has gained confidence thanks to recent territorial gains in the former Soviet republic.
Three candidates who are not rivals
The elections, in which Putin he faces three candidates who did not oppose his offensive against Ukraine or the crackdown that decimated dissent, which came a month after the death in an Arctic prison of the Kremlin’s top critic, Alexei Navalny.
Both Ukraine and the governments of Western powers described the elections of “farce”. The President of the European Council, Charles Michelsarcastically congratulated Putin on his “landslide victory” on Friday.
In Moscow, a dozen residents waited their turn in the morning to be the first to vote.
“It is important to vote for the future of Russia,” said Liudmila, a 70-year-old Putin supporter. This Muscovite assured that she expected “above all victory (in Ukraine)”.
Natan, 72 years old and also a follower of the current president, declared for his part that he hoped that the government increase “employment” and work “so that there is no war, but stability in the country”.
Valentina, 75, said in turn that “currently, there is no alternative to Putin“With Putin’s main opponents dead, in prison or in exile, the result of the vote leaves no room for doubt.
Excluding electoral authorities the few opposition candidates who tried to confront Putin.
A state poll earlier this week predicted as much would get more than 80% of the votes.
In Moscow, a dozen residents waited their turn in the morning to be the first to vote. Photo: APIn Ukraine’s Moscow-controlled Donetsk region in the country’s east, armed soldiers accompanied election officials as they placed ballot boxes on street tables or on the hoods of vehicles.
Putin’s detractors They still hope to torpedo the vote. Navalni’s widow, Yulia Navalnayainvited voters to gather at polling stations Sunday at noon, last day of voting, as a form of protest.
Navalnaya, which She lives in exile and has vowed to continue her late husband’s fight. He called on Russians to vote for any candidate except Putin.
The Moscow prosecutor’s office warned that it will punish those involved “in organizing and participating in mass events.”
In the Donetsk region of Ukraine, armed soldiers accompanied election officials. Photo: AFPThis week, Ukraine launched some of its largest bombing attacks against Russia.
The Russian military also said on Friday that it had repelled numerous incursions by Ukrainian fighters since March 12. These raid attempts were claimed by Russian anti-Kremlin units.
This was stated on Friday by the authorities located from Moscow to Donetsk Three children died in a nighttime bombing in Ukraine.
Ukraine, in turn, said two people were killed in a Russian drone strike in the Vinnytsia region of central Ukraine and another in a bombing in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. In the southern port city of Odessa, the regional governor said two rescue workers were killed in a Russian attack.
In Belgorod, on the border with the former Soviet republic, a group of voters had to take refuge in an air raid shelter after authorities raised an air raid alert, according to state news agency RIA Novosti.
The Russian Defense Ministry noted that Ukraine had launched seven rockets against the Region.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.