Russia’s presidential election was carefully orchestrated by the Kremlin to demonstrate President Vladimir V. Putin’s unwavering and overwhelming support, particularly in light of his war against Ukraine. The preliminary results, which showed Putin winning over 87% of the vote, were broadcasted across state television, leaving no room for doubt. However, despite these figures, the situation is more complex than it seems. Independent polls have shown that while Putin’s approval rating has increased during the war, there is a difference between what Russians want and what they expect from Putin. This suggests that if given an alternative, they might make a different choice. Unfortunately, alternative choices have been systematically eliminated over the near quarter century that Putin has been in power in Russia. Opposition figures have been exiled, jailed, or killed, and independent news outlets have been driven out of the country. This has led to a wave of repression unseen since the Soviet era, with lengthy prison sentences for simple acts of dissent, such as critical social media posts. The recent death of Russian opposition figure Aleksei A. Navalny further underscores the lack of viable alternatives to Putin’s rule.
2024-03-18 04:11:00
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