Vladimir Putin strengthened his dominance over Russia by securing another six-year presidential term in an election that has been widely criticized for eliminating his main rivals before the start of the race.
With just 50 percent of the votes counted, election officials have already declared Putin's victory, noting that he won with an impressive 87.3 percent of the vote, marking the highest vote share among his five election victories since 2000.
According to Russian authorities, participation also reached a historical record, with 74% of the electorate going to the polls. In comparison, Putin's previous highest result was recorded in 2018, when he won 76.7% of the vote with a turnout of 67.5%.
Putin's share of the vote in presidential elections.
2000: 53.4%
2004: 71.9%
2012: 63.6%
2018: 76.6%
2024: 87% (estimate, according to exit polls) pic.twitter.com/gSeaVRNEo6
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) March 17, 2024
From the beginning of the electoral cycle, Putin was presented as the undisputed national leader, far above any potential rival. The other three candidates also refrained from criticizing the president, further highlighting his dominance in the political sphere.
The three days of voting transformed into a pro-Putin mobilization exercise, where Russian citizens faced intense pressure to support the leader and the state regime. This pressure was accentuated by strict supervision that included public sector employees, students, and workers in Russian companies, who were urged, and even sometimes forced, to cast their vote.
International observers have denounced a series of irregularities and coercion. However, Putin has secured his grip on power, suggesting that his influence will continue to dominate the Russian political scene for years to come.
An official celebration to commemorate Putin's victory is expected on Monday and many consider this an event that marks a new chapter in Russia's political history, one characterized by an even firmer grip on power by the president.
Unfair elections
The White House lashed out at the Russian elections, declaring that they were "obviously not free nor fair," noting that President Putin has imprisoned political opponents and hindered the participation of other candidates against him.
The German Foreign Ministry also expressed its opinion on the election results, stating that they "would not surprise anyone." "The government of Putin is authoritarian and relies on censorship, repression and violence," the ministry wrote in a statement on its official X account. Furthermore, the ministry added that the "elections" in the occupied territories of Ukraine are invalid and represent another flagrant violation of international law.
Die Pseudowahlen in #Russland sind weder frei noch fair, das Ergebnis überrascht niemanden. Putin herrscht autoritär, er setzt auf Zensur, Repression und Gewalt. Die „Wahlen“ in den besetzten Gebieten der #Ukraine sind null und nichtig & ein weiterer Bruch des Völkerrechts.
— Auswärtiges Amt (@AuswaertigesAmt) March 17, 2024
Protests
According to official sources, incidents were recorded during the elections where some voters poured ink into the ballot boxes or tried to start fires, resulting in at least fifteen criminal proceedings. Other citizens opted for more discreet methods, such as voting at 12:00 to generate long lines or writing messages on the ballots.
Among the messages written on the ballots, expressions such as "Thief and murderer, no to war" or "Murderer, you will never win. Glory to Ukraine!" reveal the discontent of some voters. These messages, reported by the independent media Novaya Gazeta Europe, refer to two main concerns during the electoral process: the continuing war in Ukraine and the recent death in prison of dissident Alexei Navalny.
Communist congratulations
One of Putin's staunchest allies, the Chinese communist regime, celebrated the Russian president's victory at the polls and congratulated him on continuing at the helm of the Kremlin for another term. "China expresses its congratulations. We are convinced that, under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, China-Russia relations will continue to make progress," said Lin Jian, Foreign Ministry spokesman, in statements picked up by AFP.
Those who also celebrated Putin's victory were Miguel Díaz-Canel and Nicolás Maduro. While his country is in a situation totally overwhelmed by the lack of food, among other resources, the President of Cuba published a message on social networks congratulating his Russian counterpart:
Our sincere congratulations on the re-election of President Vladimir Putin. It is a reliable sign of the Russian people's recognition of his administration. We will continue to strengthen ties between Cuba and Russia, in sectors identified for the welfare of our peoples.
Nuestras sinceras felicitaciones por la reelección del Presidente Vladimir Putin.
Constituye muestra fehaciente del reconocimiento del pueblo ruso a su gestión.
Continuaremos afianzando nexos entre #Cuba y #Rusia, en sectores identificados para el bienestar de nuestros pueblos. pic.twitter.com/UH32EOaX67— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) March 17, 2024
For his part, the Venezuelan president used the same channel as Díaz-Canel to celebrate Putin's victory:
I send my congratulations to the brotherly people of Russia and to President Vladimir Putin for his extraordinary victory in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation. It has been an impeccable electoral process that in these last 3 days has demonstrated its democratic participation in an exemplary manner. Our embrace to all the Russian people and to the United Russia party!
Envío mis felicitaciones al hermano pueblo de Rusia y al presidente Vladímir Putin por su extraordinaria victoria en las elecciones presidenciales de la Federación de Rusia. Ha sido un proceso electoral impecable que en estos últimos 3 días ha demostrado su participación… pic.twitter.com/w2Xe59xUwA
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) March 17, 2024
The West: the elections were "neither free nor fair."
The response from the West to Putin's electoral victory was totally contrary. One of the first countries to do so was Germany which, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the Russian elections as "neither free nor fair":
The pseudo-election in #Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The "election“ in the occupied territories of #Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law.
— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 17, 2024
France also expressed its total rejection of Putin's continuity at the head of the Kremlin. The government of Emmanuel Macron issued a statement picked up by AFP repeating the words written by Germany and in which it applauded the Russians who demonstrated peacefully as a sign of rejection to the victory of the Russian leader:
France takes note of the expected outcome of the presidential election under which V. Putin remains president of the Russian Federation for a fifth term. However, the conditions for a free, pluralistic and democratic election were again not met. France salutes the courage of the many Russian citizens who peacefully demonstrated their opposition to this violation of their fundamental political rights.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, reiterated the lack of freedom in a Russian election that "was based on repression and intimidation":
But I want to anticipate that these have not been free and fair elections, without observation by the CO, in a highly restricted environment, which is diplomatically what I can say, but more than that, these elections have been based on repression and intimidation, and they have been held on the occupied territory of Ukraine, violating Ukrainian sovereignty.
