The result of the election in Russia is as expected: Vladimir Putin will be at the helm of the country for six more years. People had no real alternative in the election, which was neither free nor fair.
On Russian state-run television, the interpretation of the election results is clear: Russian society is moving together, consolidating around Vladimir Putin. This was said by both the moderators and the three politicians who had no chance and were on the ballot papers alongside Putin.
The candidate of the Communist Party, Nikolai Kharitonov, expressed it particularly pathetically. He was fully in line with the Kremlin. “The people have come together like never before and believe in our victory, hence the consolidation around current President Putin,” said Kharitonov. “People are dying at the borders of our beloved Russia. Hope is high, and the Communist Party, with the incumbent president, is doing everything to defeat fascism in Ukraine.”
Violators of international law Voting in Ukrainian regions
The first vote counts were announced even before the last polling stations in western Russia closed. From a district in the Far East and, of all places, from the Donetsk region of Ukraine: Over 95 percent of people there are said to have ticked Putin’s name on the ballot papers.
The fact that the occupied Ukrainian territories do not belong to Russia under international law did not bother Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council and General Secretary of the United Russia party Andrei Turchak. “The high turnout demonstrated over these three days confirms that we cannot be broken,” he claims. “Not the residents of the border regions and not the residents of our new regions.”
Authorities speak of voter turnout of 74 percent
Overall, voter turnout was reported at a good 74 percent – the highest ever recorded in a presidential election in Russian history.
According to the Russian account, there were no significant obstacles to the election in Russia itself. The independent Russian election observers from the “Golos” organization say they discovered over 1,600 irregularities.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called those who tried to express their protest by painting or burning urns traitors. According to human rights organizations, over 60 criminal proceedings have now been initiated.
Russia speaks of foreign interference
From the perspective of the Russian leadership, the election was essentially jeopardized only from abroad. Ukraine and the USA have been accused of cyber attacks. There have reportedly been over eight million attacks on the Russian Central Election Commission website since the beginning of the year.
The head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, said: “The DDoS attacks we have experienced are unprecedented. The war is underway not only in the area of special operations with Western weapons, but also with cyber attacks.” She spoke of “a whole new level.” “But we will get through this,” said Pamfilova. “I would like to thank the West. Our people have understood even better how important it is to stand together. The stronger the pressure on us, the stronger our resistance.”
Kremlin calls for “unity” of the people
She said this in the spirit of Vladimir Putin, who appeared late in the evening and invoked the unity of the people of Russia.
There are big tasks ahead of us. But if we stand together, and I think everyone has understood that, then nothing and no one can intimidate and oppress us. This has never been successful, is not successful and will not succeed. All our grandiose plans will undoubtedly be implemented, and the goals will definitely be achieved.
Russia is moving closer together – and it threatens the West as well as Ukraine. These should be the messages before Putin’s fifth term as president, which will last until 2030.
Jürgen Buch, ARD Moscow, tagesschau, March 18, 2024 12:11 a.m