Vladimir Putin has, once again, emerged victorious in the Russian Presidential elections.
According to official figures released by Russia’s Central Election Commission, Putin secured over 87% of the vote in a landslide victory. However, the path to Putin’s victory was no nail-biter. In truth, the Russian elections were a farcical attempt at playing democracy.
The lead-up to the election was characterised by a crackdown reminiscent of the Soviet era. Political opponents were silenced, anti-war candidates were removed from the ballot, and independent voices were stifled through a £1bn propaganda drive and strict media censorship.
Allegations of suppression of political opponents and limited electoral competition underscored Putin’s reelection. In fact, there was no real opposition to the Russian leader after authorities barred two candidates who had been vocal in their opposition to the war in Ukraine.
One notable absence was Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most vocal critic and political foe. Navalny, barred from running and subsequently imprisoned by Russian authorities in January 2021, passed away on 16 February 2024 while in detention at the “Polar Wolf” Arctic penal colony. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has openly accused Putin of being responsible for his death.
In the aftermath of the election, Navalny’s allies denounced the outcome as a sham. “The percentages drawn for Putin have, of course, not the slightest relation to reality,” remarked Leonid Volkov, an ally of Navalny who himself faced intimidation and violence, including being beaten with a meat hammer while in exile in Lithuania.
Independent monitoring organisations were banned from observing the election, further eroding transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Independent Russian watchdog Golos, which the Kremlin has branded as a foreign agent, said that Russia had never before “seen a presidential campaign that fell so far short of constitutional standards.”
Western leaders wasted no time condemning the election as neither free nor fair. “The elections underlined the depth of repression in Russia,” stated British Foreign Minister David Cameron. Western countries, including the US, the UK and the EU, lined up to label the poll undemocratic, claiming the preordained election was likely used to extend and deepen the Ukraine war.
“The Russian dictator is simulating another election,” stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
With constitutional changes Putin executed in 2020, the path has been paved for Putin to remain in power until 2036; the implications of his reelection extend far beyond Russia’s borders.
Of particular concern are Putin’s remarks regarding potential further incursions into Ukrainian territory. In his victory address, Putin marked Russia’s intention to create a buffer zone in Ukraine. Additionally, when asked about a potential clash with NATO, he responded, “Everything is possible in today’s world.”
Despite widespread international condemnation, Putin’s reelection has received congratulations from several world leaders, particularly from countries with historical or strategic ties to Russia. South Africa has yet to make a statement on Putin’s victory, but given the close ties with Russia as a member of BRICS, the South African government may remain silent, choosing neutrality, similar to the tactic taken in response to the Ukraine war, where South Africa has openly refrained from picking sides.
Putin’s fifth presidential victory has extended his reign over the country, now spanning nearly a quarter-century. This raises questions about the future of democracy in Russia and its inevitable impact on global geopolitics.
