Russians are voting on Day 2 of an election that was destined to extend Putin’s rule

Voters across Russia cast their ballots on Saturday on the second day of elections. The elections would formalize six years of more power for President Vladimir Putin, who faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissidents during his nearly 25-year rule.

The elections come against the backdrop of a brutal crackdown that has suppressed independent media and prominent rights groups. Putin’s fiercest political enemy, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and other critics are in prison or in exile.

Putin, 71, faces three symbolic rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties, which have refrained from criticizing him or his invasion of Ukraine. Putin has portrayed his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as an existential battle against the US and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia.

Russia’s war economy has proven resilient and is expanding despite heavy Western sanctions. Russia’s defense industry has served as a major growth engine, working around the clock to produce missiles, tanks and ammunition.

Russia’s opposition movement has urged those dissatisfied with Putin or the war to go to the polls in protest on Sunday afternoon, the last day of voting. The strategy was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death.

Voting takes place at polling stations in Russia’s eleven time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online.

In the run-up to the election, Putin boasted of battlefield successes in Ukraine, where Russian forces have recently made incremental gains thanks to their advantage in firepower. Ukraine, meanwhile, has fought back by stepping up attacks on Russia’s border regions and launching drone strikes deep into the country.

On Friday, Putin described this week’s cross-border shelling and raids by Ukrainian forces as an attempt by Ukraine to scare Russians and derail the mood. He promised that the attacks “will not go unpunished.”

Officials said the vote was orderly. But despite strict controls, at least six cases of vandalism at polling stations have been reported, including a firebomb attack and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent tribute to Navalny, who was attacked in 2017 by an assailant who splashed green disinfectant in his face.

Western leaders have derided the vote as a mockery of democracy.

European Council President Charles Michel mockingly congratulated Putin on Friday on his landslide victory in an election that was technically still underway. “No opposition. No freedom. No choice,” he wrote on social media platform X.

In addition to the lack of options for voters, the options for independent supervision are very limited. No important international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-endorsed candidates or state-backed advisory bodies can assign observers to polling stations, reducing the likelihood of independent watchdogs.

First print: March 16, 2024 | 12:29 pm IST