Russia elections live: More than 75 arrested during Putin’s sham vote as polls close in occupied Ukraine
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More than 75 people have been arrested across 17 cities in Russia as thousands took part in the “Noon Against Putin” protest at midday, independent human rights organisation OVD-Info has reported.
In what is the last day of three of voting in the Russian presidential elections, authorities kept up promises to crack down on anyone who took part in the midday protests endorsed by the late Alexei Navalny a fortnight before he died – despite there being no obvious signs of wrongdoing.
Nearly 40 percent of all those arrested were from Kazan, a city 500 miles east of Moscow with a strong Sunni Muslim majority. At least 19 were arrested in Moscow and seven in Vladimir Putin’s hometown of St Petersburg.
In Ufa, southern Russia, one man said he was detained for attempting to throw a photo of Mr Navalny into a ballot box. He told OVD-Info that the authorities then threatened to charge him with obstructing the work of election commissions.
Mr Navalny’s allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday who they said were there to peacefully protest.
Watch: Alexei Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya attends protest against Russian elections
The crowd could be heard chanting her name as Ms Navalnaya shook hands with protesters.
Protesters could also be seen holding up a fake street sign reading “Alexei Navalny Street”.
The sham Russian election, taking place this weekend, is widely expected to confirm Vladimir Putin’s fifth term of presidency, set to last for at least another six years.
Putin, 71, faces little competition; his opponents are either in jail or in exile abroad. His most prominent competition- Mr Navalny – died in a remote Arctic penal colony last month.
Watch: Alexei Navalny’s wife Yulia attends protest against Russian elections
Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya joined election protesters outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on Sunday (17 March). The crowd could be heard chanting her name as Ms Navalnaya shook hands with protesters. Protesters could also be seen holding up a fake street sign reading “Alexei Navalny Street”. The sham Russian election, taking place this weekend, is widely expected to confirm Vladimir Putin’s fifth term of presidency, set to last for at least another six years. Putin, 71, faces little competition; his opponents are either in jail or in exile abroad. His most prominent competition- Mr Navalny – died in a remote Arctic penal colony last month.
Tom Watling17 March 2024 17:00
An endless war and a harsher crackdown on dissent? What can Russia expect after Putin’s bogus ballot
Consolidating power and quashing dissent has characterised his nearly quarter of a century in power; a new form of much of the same is likely to define his fifth term in charge, this time centred on prolonging his war in Ukraine.
“The election means more war, no peace,” says John Foreman, a former UK defence attache to Moscow.
Tom Watling17 March 2024 16:17
Russian polls close in occupied Ukraine, says official
Russian polling stations in the occupied Ukrainian region of Luhansk have closed, local officials announced, as the last day of voting in sham presidential elections comes to a close.
Elena Kravchenko, chairman of the Election Commission of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), said all 581 polling stations had been closed and they had begun counting votes.
The election commission has claimed that the final turnout in the LPR was 87.12 percent.
Over the past few weeks – voting for the presidential elections was opened early in occupied Ukraine – footage has shown armed Russian soldiers escorting poll workers door-to-door through the four regions of Ukraine illegally annexed by Vladimir Putin in September 2022.
Occupation officials have said the military escorts are there to protect those collecting votes but Ukraine says they are there to intimidate civilians into voting for a man that ordered the invasion of their regional homes.
A local resident casts his vote into a mobile ballot box next to a security member during Russia’s presidential election in the basement of a destroyed apartment building in the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk Region
(REUTERS)
Tom Watling17 March 2024 15:45
Ukrainian drone downed in Russia’s Kaluga region, says governor
A Ukrainian drone was downed in Russia’s Kaluga region, the local governor said on Sunday.
No casualties or damage were reported, he said.
Tom Watling17 March 2024 15:10
Alexei Navalny’s wife issues defiant Russia election recorded message to Putin at Hungarian rally
Alexei Navalny’s wife issues defiant election message to Putin at Hungarian rally
Alexei Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya has issued a defiant election message to Vladimir Putin at a Hungarian rally. The current Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban is reportedly an old friend and political ally of Putin. As Russia heads to the polls for a general election, Ms Navalnaya recorded an appeal, which was shown at the rally on Saturday (16 March). Ms Navalnaya said: “In every speech I make, I emphasise one thing: Putin is not Russia. Russia is not Putin. And Hungary is not Orban either. This is what you prove here today. Democratic and free Hungary has allies – tens of millions of my fellow citizens who also want to live in a democratic and free Russia.”
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 14:00
Navalny’s widow takes part in noon protest in Berlin
Yulia Navalnaya has taken part in a noon protest against Vladimir Putin in Berlin, activists have said.
The widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny headed out in the German city at 12pm local time as part of “Noon Against Putin” movement.
Activists said that some people chanted “Yulia, Yulia”, and clapped.
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 13:00
Watch: Russia general election voters queue at polling station in Saint Petersburg
Watch: Russia general election voters queue at polling station in Saint Petersburg
Footage shows voters queuing at a polling station in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday (17 March). The sham election is widely expected to confirm Vladimir Putin’s fifth term of presidency, set to last for at least another six years. Putin, 71, faces little competition; his opponents are either in jail or in exile abroad, and the most prominent – Alexei Navalny – died in a remote Arctic penal colony last month. Voting closes at 9pm in Moscow with the results announced shortly after.
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 12:30
Mary Dejevsky: Yes, the Russian election is rigged – but there could still be surprises for Putin
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 12:00
Pictured: Russians vote in sham election
A woman is checked before entering a polling station in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday
(AP)
Two voters cast their ballots, which include Putin and three Kremlin-vetted candidates, on Sunday
(REUTERS)
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 11:34
Russia elections: Everything you need to know about sham presidential polls that will hand Putin fifth term
Alexander Butler17 March 2024 10:58
