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Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to consolidate his grip on energy in an election he’s set to win in a landslide, though 1000’s of opponents staged a symbolic afternoon protest at polling stations.
Supporters of Putin's arch political foe Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic jail final month, have referred to as on Russians to return out for an “afternoon in opposition to Putin” protest to voice their dissent in opposition to a corrupt autocratic chief. Can present.
Navalny's allies, together with his widow Yulia Navalnaya, have urged folks sad with Putin, 71, or the continued struggle with Ukraine to protest by turning out to the polls on Sunday afternoon, a tactic Navalny rejected earlier than his demise. Had supported a while in the past.
Crew Navalny launched pictures and movies of crowds gathering close to polling stations in Russian cities round midday, calling it successful.
At a polling station in south-west Moscow, 18-year-old scholar Leonid stated there have been “not that many individuals” participating within the protests however he was “simply completely happy that some folks got here”.
The polling station was on the faculty the place Navalny achieved his highest end result – 70 p.c – in his unsuccessful bid to turn into Moscow mayor in 2013. He later tried to run in opposition to Putin within the 2018 presidential election however his candidacy was rejected.
After casting his poll on the polling station the place Navalny used to vote, IT employee Alexander stated he got here as a result of it was one of many few methods he may protest.
“If I hadn't executed it, I’d have felt like a coward,” the 29-year-old stated.
Elena, 52, stated folks had been “very afraid” to return out in massive numbers. “I don't need Russia, my Motherland, to be like that… I really like my nation; I would like it to be free.”
Putin, who got here to energy in 1999, is about to win a brand new six-year time period, which might allow him to overhaul Joseph Stalin and turn into Russia's longest-serving chief for greater than 200 years.
Though there isn’t a doubt about Putin's re-election given his management over Russia and the absence of any actual challenger, the previous KGB spy needs to indicate that he has the overwhelming help of Russians.
A number of hours earlier than voting closed at 18:00 GMT, nationwide turnout surpassed the 2018 degree of 67.5 p.c.