“Putin remains highly popular in a country where they anti-war opinions are prohibited or question the current political system in Russia,” he emphasizes. Xavier Colas from Moscow.

Some 112 million Russians You are called to vote today. “Putin is again attending the event without important rivals. He faces only three candidates who lack popularity and experience in government. He The only enemy may be low participation and that’s why the president appealed to Russians on television asking them to vote,” Kolas adds.

Putin, in power since 2000, faces three candidates who do not oppose a military offensive in Ukraine or the crackdown that would root out any opposition, as evidenced by the mid-February death in prison of the Kremlin’s chief detractor. Alexey Navalny.

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Voting in this election is “a way to show how patriotic you are,” Putin said. The Kremlin is hoping for a high turnout to demonstrate that the Russians support a “special military operation” in Ukraine, as the government calls the invasion. Unlike demonstrations, Putin asked Russians not to stay at home and take part“, our correspondent notes.

“Dissidents were unsure what to do: promote abstinence or vote for any candidate other than Putin. Or, perhaps, a zero vote by writing anti-war slogans on the ballot,” Kolas concludes.