Russia Sees Protests at Polling Stations on Final Day of Voting
Lines at Polling Stations Grow
Russia saw protests at polling stations on Sunday on the final day of voting in an election set to extend Russian President Vladimir Putin’s long hold on power. Lines at some polling stations in Russia grew suddenly at around 12pm local time Sunday, the hour at which supporters of the deceased opposition leader Alexey Navalny called on people to turn out collectively as a show of opposition support. A CNN team at a polling station in Moscow said the line grew rapidly over a five- to ten-minute spell at around noon, and estimated 150 people had arrived. The CNN team said that police were letting people in batches through the gates to pass through security, with metal detectors and bags being checked inside the building. One 39-year old voter said he had come at noon “to see other people, and they have come too.”
Support for Navalny Sparks Protests
Social media channels set up by supporters of Navalny showed video clips of lines in several places, including Moscow neighborhoods and locations in St Petersburg. More supporters of the Kremlin critic gathered around his grave to pay their respects on Sunday. Russians overseas also responded to the calls by Navalny’s supporters to protest at polling stations, forming long lines outside the Russian embassies in Berlin and London.
Protests and Civil Disobedience
Voting in the presidential election has seen some acts of civil disobedience, with Russia filing at least 15 criminal cases after people poured dye in ballot boxes, started fires, or lobbed Molotov cocktails. More than 60 Russians have been detained across 16 Russian cities Sunday, according to independent human rights group OVD-Info. Dissent has effectively been outlawed in Russia since it launched its invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.
Election Results and Putin’s Future
Sunday marks the third and final day of voting, with Russian President Vladimir Putin almost certain to win a fifth term in office. Polling stations in all but the most western regions of Russia have closed, and the first election results are expected to be released after 9 p.m. Moscow time (2 p.m. ET) Sunday. The turnout in the election has surpassed 70% of eligible voters, according to the Election Commission. Putin’s reelection would extend his rule until at least 2030, and with constitutional changes in 2020, he would then be able to run again and potentially stay in power until 2036.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
