Putin Secures Russian Presidential Election with 87.97% of Votes

Vladimir Putin Wins Russian Presidential Election with 87.97% of Votes

Exit polls on Sunday showed that Vladimir Putin was on his way to securing another six-year term as Russian president. This victory makes him the longest-serving Russian leader in over 200 years.

The outcome of the election was widely expected, as all major opponents of the 71-year-old were either deceased, in prison, or in exile. The government-run VTsIOM pollster projected that Putin had won the election with a commanding 87 percent of the vote after polls closed in Russia’s western-most region of Kaliningrad at 1700 GMT.

The election took place amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions, with deadly Ukrainian bombardments and incursions into Russian territory by pro-Kyiv sabotage groups. The Kremlin positioned the election as an opportunity for Russians to show support for the military operation in Ukraine.

However, Kyiv denounced the vote as a sham, with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling Putin a “dictator” who is “drunk from power.” The election also faced criticism from the opposition, with allies of the late Alexei Navalny urging voters to protest by spoiling their ballots.

Despite some acts of protest and dissent, Putin’s win was resoundingly reported. The victory solidifies his position as Russia’s leader until at least 2030, marking a significant period of power that will surpass that of any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century.

Putin addressed the nation before the election, acknowledging Russia’s challenges and calling for unity. A concert on Red Square is planned to commemorate 10 years since Russia’s annexation of Crimea, serving as a celebration of Putin’s victory.