WEB DESK: Vladimir Putin has won Russia’s presidential election with 87.97 percent of the vote, according to the first official results showed on Sunday after polls closed
The election, which commenced on Friday, witnessed unprecedented levels of engagement, with lines at polling stations swelling as supporters of opposition leader Alexey Navalny rallied for collective turnout, aiming to demonstrate opposition support.
President Putin’s bid for a new six-year term is poised to further solidify his grip on power, potentially making him Russia’s longest-serving leader, surpassing even Josef Stalin.
Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia’s Central Election Commission, reported a turnout of 70.81% as of Sunday afternoon, eclipsing the 2018 figures of 67.54%.
However, alongside the high turnout, protests marred the election’s landscape, with reports of arrests across 17 cities.
Opposition figures, including Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya, urged demonstrators to rally in large numbers, advocating for the spoiling of ballots or voting for candidates other than Putin.
