Putin poised to solidify one-man rule in Russia following orchestrated election lacking viable opposition

President Vladimir Putin is on track to strengthen his control over Russia, a country he has been leading since the early 2000s. Early results from the carefully orchestrated election show a widely expected win for the Kremlin leader.

Shortly after voting ended on Sunday, the chief of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that Putin was ahead with an overwhelming 87.9% of the votes counted so far.

Putin's victory ensures his presidency will continue until at least 2030, when he will be 77 years old. He will become Russia's longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, marking three full decades in power.

Due to the absence of viable opposition candidates, who have either died, been imprisoned, exiled, or banned from running, Putin faced no significant threats to his leadership. Dissent has been effectively suppressed in Russia since the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Kremlin views the ritual of elections as crucially important, despite the inevitable outcome. Previously held every four years, presidential terms were extended to six years in 2008. Further constitutional changes in 2020 removed term limits, potentially allowing Putin to remain in power until 2036.

In addition to the regular election, Russia also conducted a presidential election in four Ukrainian regions it annexed during its invasion. Ukraine denounced the elections as a violation of international law and declared them "null and void."

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CNN reports on the growing lines at polling stations in Russia in support of Navalny. Putin's strongest critics have passed away recently. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the failed June uprising, died two months later in a plane crash from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The Kremlin has denied any role in Prigozhin's death.

The elections took place a month after the passing of Alexey Navalny, who was a prominent opponent of Putin. Navalny was not allowed to run in the 2018 election and was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent, in 2020. An investigation by CNN-Bellingcat revealed that a team from the Russian Security Service (FSB) specializing in toxins and nerve agents had been following him. After receiving treatment in Germany, Navalny returned to Russia in 2021 and was later sentenced to over 30 years in prison in multiple trials.

On February 16, Navalny passed away in an Arctic penal colony. The Russian prison service stated that he became ill after a walk and lost consciousness, ultimately attributing his death to natural causes. The Kremlin denied any involvement in his poisoning or death.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Navalny, encouraged Russians to come together in opposition on Sunday, the last day of voting in all of Russia's 11 time zones and 89 federal subjects. Leading up to this, the Kremlin had cautioned against unauthorized gatherings.

A CNN team in Moscow observed the queue outside a polling station rapidly growing at noon as part of the "Noon Against Putin" protests inspired by Navalny. A woman in line shared with CNN that it was the first time she had ever seen such a line for elections in her life. When asked why she was there at that time, she responded, "You know why. I believe everyone in this line knows why."

The election faced further challenges with disturbing acts of defiance. By Saturday, Russia had reported 15 criminal cases due to incidents such as dye being poured into ballot boxes, fires being started, and Molotov cocktails being thrown at polling stations. Ella Pamfilova, the head of Russia’s CEC, revealed that 29 polling stations in 20 regions were affected, including eight arson attempts.

Voters wait in line at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, at noon local time, March 17, 2024.

Voters wait in line at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, at noon local time, March 17, 2024.

AP

The election follows over two years of war, causing significant harm to the Russian population. The Kremlin keeps the number of casualties a secret, but Western officials estimate that more than 300,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured in Ukraine.

According to a declassified US intelligence assessment, Russia has lost a shocking 87% of its active-duty ground troops since invading Ukraine. To compensate for these losses, Moscow has implemented a "partial" mobilization and has been recruiting men from prisons.

Putin’s invasion has changed the way the world views Russia, leading to Western countries isolating Russia for its actions. The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin's arrest over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, causing over 100 countries to agree to detain him if he visits their land.

Despite facing criticism, Russia has also found new opportunities to strengthen relationships with other nations. Russia has enhanced its ties with China, North Korea, and Iran, who have not condemned the invasion. Putin has also been reaching out to countries in the Global South, promoting a vision of a world where the West does not dominate.

Putin's critics claim that he creates international issues to divert attention from Russia's internal challenges, such as poor healthcare and high poverty rates.

A man leaves a voting booth at a polling station in St. Petersburg, March 16, 2024.

A man leaves a voting booth at a polling station in St. Petersburg, March 16, 2024.

Dmitri Lovetsky/AP

Russia has managed to withstand sanctions from Western countries better than anticipated. However, the conflict has negatively impacted its economy by diverting resources towards military production. This has led to a rise in inflation, making essentials like eggs too expensive for many, and causing a significant number of young professionals to emigrate from the country.

In addition, the war has resulted in a harsh crackdown on dissent, surpassing any previous measures taken during Putin's 24-year tenure. Independent media outlets have been silenced, civil society organizations have been forced to close down, and numerous individuals have been imprisoned for speaking out against the war.

The war has given Putin a patriotic cause to unite Russians.

It is challenging to measure public opinion in authoritarian countries like Russia, where monitoring groups are closely watched and people are hesitant to speak out against the government.

The Levada Center, a non-governmental polling organization, has found that almost half of Russians strongly support the war in Ukraine, with over three quarters being somewhat supportive. Additionally, Putin's approval rating stands at over 80%, a significant increase compared to the years preceding the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Following the recent election, Russia is poised to further capitalize on its growing advantage in Ukraine. With superior manpower and ammunition supplies, Russian forces played a key role in a Ukrainian retreat from the village of Avdiivka last month. Moscow's troops are currently testing Ukraine's defenses at various locations along the 1,000-kilometer frontline.

CNN recently reported that Russia is expected to produce approximately 3 million artillery munitions annually, which is almost three times more than both the United States and Europe. This information comes from NATO intelligence estimates on Russian defense production.

This story is still developing, so stay tuned for updates.

Editor's P/S:

The article paints a grim picture of Russia's political landscape under President Vladimir Putin's iron-fisted rule. Despite facing no significant opposition in the recent elections, Putin's victory ensures his presidency for another six years, marking a three-decade reign and making him Russia's longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin. The suppression of dissent, the absence of viable opposition candidates, and the manipulation of the electoral system have created a facade of democracy, where the outcome is predetermined.

The war in Ukraine has had a profound impact on Russia, both domestically and internationally. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, economic hardship, and isolation from Western countries. Putin's invasion has also led to a crackdown on dissent and a shift in the global balance of power. However, Russia has also managed to strengthen its ties with other nations and promote a vision of a world where the West does not dominate. As the war continues, it remains to be seen how Russia will navigate the challenges it faces and what the long-term consequences of Putin's presidency will be.