Russia’s presidential election: the who, what and when?
– Russia will hold a presidential election on March 15-17.
– President Vladimir Putin is expected to win, which would give him another six-year term.
– The election will include voting in parts of Ukraine now controlled by Russian forces.
– A remote online voting system will be available for the first time.
– There are 112.3 million eligible voters within Russia, 1.9 million abroad, and 12,000 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
– Turnout is usually around 70-80 million, with a 67.5% turnout in 2018.
– Putin’s opponents include Communist Nikolai Kharitonov, Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Vladislav Davankov of the New People party.
– Anti-war candidate Boris Nadezhdin and Yekaterina Duntsova were barred from running.
– Putin has served as president longer than any Russian leader since Josef Stalin.
– Amendments in 2008 extended presidential terms to six years, and 2020 amendments reset Putin’s term count, allowing him to potentially remain in power until 2036.
– Putin has high approval ratings in Russia, despite Western criticism.
– The Russian opposition is tightly controlled, with pro-Western liberals having no seats in parliament.
– Supporters of Alexei Navalny are either in jail or have fled abroad.
– Yulia Navalnaya has called for a massive election day protest against Putin.
– Russian nationalist ex-militia commander Igor Girkin called the election a “sham.”
– The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights was not invited to observe the election, citing deteriorated conditions in Russia.