2024-03-16 08:42:22
The second day of presidential elections is being held in Russia today. After almost a quarter of a century in power, Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin wants to use the vote to secure a fifth term in office for the next six years. According to the election management, more than 100 million people are called upon to cast their votes. Voting across eleven time zones runs until tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. (CET).
Protests and arrests
The start the day before was accompanied by protests and arrests. According to authorities, incendiary devices were set off at polling stations in various cities and regions. A bomb exploded outside a polling station in a Russian-occupied region of Ukraine, according to the local election commission.
Despite authorities’ warnings of punishment for protesters, authorities said at least nine people were arrested for “vandalism” at polling stations. It is unclear whether this was a coordinated protest once morest the election or individual cases.
Footage from a polling station in Moscow released by independent news agency SOTA showed an elderly woman setting fire to a voting booth before being arrested. In other parts of the country, voters set off Molotov cocktails and fireworks while casting their votes. Further arrests were made following people poured paint into ballot boxes.
In St. Petersburg, according to the election authority, a 20-year-old woman tried to throw a Molotov cocktail at a voting station. The “illegal actions” were “effectively stopped” by the police and no one was injured, said a person responsible for the local electoral authority.
UN criticism of elections in occupied territories
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres criticized the votes for the Russian presidential election in the territories of Ukraine that were occupied in violation of international law. The attempt to illegally annex these regions of Ukraine has no validity under international law, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. “The United Nations remains steadfastly committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.”
United Russia reports hacker attack
Putin’s United Russia party, meanwhile, reported a hacker attack on its website. The party announced today that it was the target of a denial of service attack that paralyzed its online presence. All non-essential services have been suspended. Putin accused Ukraine of trying to sabotage the election.
Putin’s election victory is considered a foregone conclusion. The three remaining applicants are considered candidates for the opposition loyal to Putin. Political opponents of the 71-year-old were excluded from running for office or, like the opposition activist Alexei Navalny, died. His widow has called on dissatisfied citizens to vote at the same time today and thereby send a sign of protest.
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