Putin votes as elections begin amid crackdown on dissent
Russian President Vladimir Putin cast his ballot as the country began three-days of voting in the presidential elections on Friday. The polls are widely expected to return Mr Putin to the Kremlin for a sixth term after two decades in power.
The elections are being held against the backdrop of the incumbent regime’s stringent clampdown on independent media and rights groups over the past years. Mr Putin has consolidated control over the entire political establishment since becoming president in 2000.
However, the run-up to the vote has seen scattered acts of defiance. According to reports, at least half a dozen incidents of vandalism targeting ballot boxes have been reported from various regions. This includes an overnight firebomb attack at a polling station in Rostov-on-Don.
Meanwhile, photos accessed by news agencies showed Mr Putin participating in electronic voting from his residence on the outskirts of Moscow earlier on Friday. Russian law allows early voting to take place in the days before the polls close on Sunday.
No real challenge is expected, given the lack of opposition voices. The international community is closely watching the elections for allegations of violations and an uneven playing field devoid of genuine political competition. Results will be declared after three days of polling end.
