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With all the tricks: Putin wants to be confirmed in office in the elections in Russia. Election observers see enough signs of manipulation.
Moscow – Magic ink, glass urns or rejected ballot papers: more and more inconsistencies are emerging in the elections that have started in Russia. This met with massive criticism from international election observers, even from afar. “The Russian presidential election has nothing to do with fair and free elections in accordance with OSCE standards,” said Bundestag member Robin Wegener (Greens), who is also a member of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly fr.de from IPPEN.MEDIA. Rather, he added, what was expected was the “staged acclamation of the despot.”
Manipulation of the elections in Russia: election observers sound the alarm
A controversial presidential election to ensure Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin will remain in power has begun in Russia, with the opposition excluded. In the largest country in the world by area, the polling stations opened on Friday (March 15) first in the far east. The election, which is intended to secure the 71-year-old Putin another six years in office, is overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and massive allegations of manipulation. Due to eleven different time zones, the election in Russia lasts until Sunday (March 17).
As soon as the last polling stations in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea close at 7 p.m., the first forecasts and results are expected. Russian state pollsters have already predicted more than 80 percent of the vote for Putin, who has been in power for nearly a quarter century and is seeking a fifth term. That would be the highest result for him ever. Putin’s three competitors, all of whom are aligned with the Kremlin, are considered to have no chance at all.
With trickery: Why does Putin even need the election in Russia?
In German politics, the Kremlin’s actions have already met with harsh reactions across all parties. BSW chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht, among others, describes the Russia election as a “farce”. Nevertheless, it is a show event that Putin needs. At least that’s how Wegener sees it: “Even if Russia develops into an ever more totalitarian autocracy under Putin, the ruler needs legitimacy,” said the Green politician and added: “Since Putin doesn’t have the appropriate approval among the population, he only becomes an extra approved by the Kremlin-affiliated system opposition.”
Magic ink and glass urn: This is how Putin tricks his way into a new term in office in the Russian election
But despite the good prospects of the desired result, Putin is playing it safe in the Russian election. After many opposition politicians have been silenced through arrests in recent years, tricks are now also being used on official election days. During the last election in 2018, there were reports that in many places employees had stuffed entire stacks of ballot papers into the ballot boxes at once. Observers believe it is not out of the question that the brazen manipulation could be repeated in the current Russian election.
Elections in Russia: Golos election observers record many violations
Otherwise, the Kremlin is apparently also working with more subtle methods to secure Putin a new term in office. On the independent Election observation platform Golos Reports of election fraud increased on Friday. Some voters reported that special pens filled with magic ink, which dissolved into thin air as soon as it was heated, had been distributed for marking the ballot paper. The suspicion: The crosses will be changed later. Another woman was completely refused to be given her ballot paper, with the information that she had already voted. There are also glass urns in many polling stations, guarded by officials loyal to the state. It’s quite possible that not everyone has the courage not to sign their cross to Putin.
The suspected cases of election manipulation reported to Golos cannot be independently verified. International election observers are not allowed to attend elections in Russia. “Putin is replacing international election observers with hand-picked foreign extras – apparently also from the AfD,” said Green politician Wegener fr.de from IPPEN.MEDIA. “This shows shared contempt for democracy,” he added. Three members of the right-wing populist state parliament had already caused an outcry in advance because they wanted to travel to Russia as election observers at the Kremlin’s invitation.
Russia expert: “Most manipulated election in 30 years”
For Russia experts, however, the developments are anything but surprising. Sabine Fischer from the Eastern Europe and Eurasia research group at the Science and Politics Foundation said civil society election observation, which has become highly professional in the past 15 years in the confrontation with the increasingly authoritarian regime, has been deliberately destroyed by the Putin regime tagesschau.de. “All of this – especially under the conditions of a full-scale war against Ukraine – adds up to the picture of the most heavily manipulated election of the past 30 years.” (jkf)