Voting has began in Russia’s 8th Presidential Election, which is likely to hand Vladimir Putin, 71, another six years in power.
At least 114M registered voters in Russia are expected to cast their votes over three days in the ‘least contested’ election ending Sunday, 17 March.
Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) approved only three candidates to oppose Putin. All three men are thought to be satisfactorily pro-Kremlin and none oppose the invasion of Ukraine.
The opposition candidates are, by their own admission, unlikely to take many votes away from the President.
Although the ruling United Russia Party has declared its “full support” for Putin, he is running as an independent candidate, placing himself above party politics.
Putin’s expected re-election would extend his rule until at least 2030. Following constitutional changes in 2020, he would then be able to run again and potentially stay in power until 2036, which will see him secure his place as Russia’s longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
