The Russian Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced on Thursday March 21 the final results of the presidential election, formalizing the overwhelming victory of Vladimir Putin, calling it“historical” this ballot without opposition and denying any fraud.
Mr. Putin, in power for twenty-four years, obtained 87.28% of the votes, CEC President Ella Pamfilova said at a press conference. The participation rate reached 77.49% in this election which took place from March 15 to 17, she added.
“These are historic elections”said Mme Pamfilova, believing that each voter who voted had brought “his contribution to the strengthening of Russia”. She praised an election campaign ” very clean “ And “very responsible”ensuring that the CEC had only received “459 complaints in total regarding violations”. “It’s nothing at all”she estimated.
Three other candidates without scope
During the vote, Mr. Putin faced three candidates without stature who opposed neither the offensive in Ukraine nor the repression which eradicated the opposition and culminated with the death in prison in mid-February of the black beast of the Kremlin, Alexeï Navalny. The only opponent to have attempted to run, Boris Nadejdine, saw his candidacy rejected.
Following the announcement of the official results, Vladimir Putin addressed the nation in a video broadcast by public television. “The elections showed that Russia today is one big united family”he said, while he made the unity of the country behind his assault on Ukraine a leitmotif. “We are following together the historic path we have chosen. We are sure of ourselves, of our strengths and of our future”concluded the head of state.