A large number of Russians came this Sunday at 12:00 to vote against Putin. in a mass demonstration of rejection coordinated by the opposition against the re-election of the president and the war in Ukraine, reports the Spanish agency EFE.

“I haven’t voted for a long time. Today I voted against Putin because I spoiled my ballot. It doesn’t change anything, but I expressed my opinion and saw people who think the same way as me. I think that the action of everyone who came at the same time was a complete success,” he commented EFE Julia at the door of a Moscow school.

“Noon without Putin” is an initiative of liberal emigrant Maxim Reznik. who called the elections “a special election operation designed to demonstrate the unity of the Fuhrer and the nation,” and before his death in prison he was supported by opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Trying to thwart the plans of the opposition, The Russian prosecutor’s office repeated its warning up to three times that calling for or participating in such activities may result in criminal liability for obstruction of the electoral process.

12 on the clock

This morning in the Russian capital people were going to vote bit by bit. Almost all voters who went to the polls were adults or elderly. Only occasionally families with children.

Suddenly, as soon as the clock was approaching 12 the influx began to grow rapidly, which in some cases created queues outside schools under the nervous gaze of police.

“This is the only opportunity to hold a peaceful demonstration. Fear still plays a very important role in Russian society. I voted for justice,” said 40-year-old Natalya.

You could see it on social networks dozens of people are waiting to vote in schools, both in Moscow and in other cities of the European part of Russia and Siberia.

Similar images could be seen in many other European cities (Istanbul, Berlin, Prague and the Baltic capitals). especially from the post-Soviet space, where hundreds of thousands of Russians fled who did not want to fight in Ukraine.

At noon in Yerevan, about 2,500 people came to vote. long queues were also observed in the capitals of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and others.

Protests against Putin

The organizers of the campaign, who had the support of Navalny’s widow Yulia, and tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky offered participants several options: from boycotting the vote to damaging ballots or even voting against Putin.

Some wrote Navalny’s name on the ballot paper, Others checked more than one box to prevent their vote from being counted, but still others decided to exercise their right to vote.

“I voted against Putin, I always do so. I’m older and I know what the KGB is. I am very happy. I live there (points to the balcony), and for the first two days almost no one voted. And today, at 12, a lot of people gathered,” said 71-year-old Marina.

A woman living in the north of Moscow added:: “I think the action worked. I see that there are still normal people in Russia.”

“Of course, it’s interesting to come and vote. Why not at 12? I voted for Vladislav Davankov. (candidate from the New People party). Since I can vote in 2012, the candidates change, but one is always the same. I wanted to vote for someone else,” said 33-year-old Kirill, accompanied by his dog.

Davankov, the youngest of the four candidates, is 40 years old. received support from some opponents in exile for being a liberal businessman with an ambiguous position on the war.

“I voted for Davankov. I voted for the alternative. I chose the best of the worst. This is my first time voting. “This is an attempt to peacefully influence what is happening in Russia,” said twenty-year-old Anna, who voted for the first time.

Strengthening the police

If there was a heavy police presence on the first two days of voting, It was intensified on Sunday in anticipation of possible incidents.

The nervousness in some schools was evident and, in fact, In one of them the agency was banned EFE engrave contrary to the instructions of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

“I haven’t voted for a long time. I saw a lot more tension. I noticed that before there weren’t that many intelligence officers,” said 50-year-old Yanna.

Since this is a peaceful protest, There were no reports of major arrests. by the police, who seemed powerless in the face of “Noon against Putin.”

“How can I remember all their faces so I can smile at them when we pass each other on the street?” – asked an elderly woman, walking past a line that had formed at one of the schools.

You might be interested > Russia says it has shot down at least 40 Ukrainian drones in eight regions

Six hours before voting closes, participation in the Russian presidential elections exceeded 74 percent of the census, This was reported by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Russia.

Participation is greater than what was recorded in the 2018 elections. when it was 67.5 percent.

These data include remote electronic voting, which was 6.89 percent, and personal voting at polling stations, which amounted to 66.35% of the census.

Last Friday, the Russian President Vladimir Putin voted remotely from his country residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, located on the outskirts of Moscow.

Putin, who faces three candidates and is aiming for more than 80% of the vote, according to official polls, could achieve his biggest election victory since taking power in 2000.

Representative of the New People party Vladislav Davankovand communist Nikolai Kharitonov Among respondents they have 6% support. Meanwhile, ultranationalist Leonid Slutsky has support of about 5%.

Polling stations open until 20:00 local time nationwidewhich spans eleven time zones, and once polling stations close their doors at 18:00 GMT in the exclave of Kaliningrad, Russia’s westernmost point, the exit poll results will be known.

(according to information from EFE)