Putin’s Impending Electoral Triumph

Sasha Skochilenko’s crime was swapping supermarket price tags with anti-war messages. Oleg Tarasov faced penalty due to the name he gave his Wi-Fi network. Aleksey Moskalyov was convicted of discrediting the Russian military after his 13-year-old daughter drew a controversial picture at school.

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, is set to emerge victorious in the nation’s eighth presidential election. The vote, scheduled over a three-day period, will be followed by an elaborate inauguration ceremony at the historic Grand Kremlin Palace in May.

If Putin secures another six-year term, as widely expected, it will reinforce claims by his opponents that his authority remains unchallenged due to his extensive control over the Russian political system and the alleged manipulation of the election process.

“This is not an election, it’s a selection,” stated Moscow-based human rights activist Alena Popova.

Putin’s Control and Criticisms

Putin’s firm grip on power has prompted the implementation of numerous laws that restrict human rights, freedom of speech, and political opposition in Russia. Additionally, he has orchestrated a personal fortune to fund and enforce his control.

Following the constitutional amendment in 2021, Putin has the possibility of ruling until at least 2036. The highly limited and government-friendly pool of candidates in this year’s election further highlights his iron grip.

Among the few candidates are Leonid Slutsky, Nikolai Kharitonov, and Vladislav Davankov, representing different ideological backgrounds but all openly supporting anti-feminist, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. None challenge Putin’s aggressive policies in Ukraine.

Putin’s Motives in Holding the Election

While Putin already holds significant control in Russia, election rituals are carried out to ensure the perception of widespread support. It propels the widely accepted notion that the majority of Russians are on board, further reinforcing Putin’s leadership.

Marina Litvinenko, the widow of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who was assassinated in London in 2006, explained Putin’s reality. “He lives in this fake world that he has created,” emphasizing his strong belief in his own propaganda.

Putin’s Opposition and Quashed Dissent

The Russian opposition, now led by Alexei Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has called on Russians to show up in masses during the election to demonstrate opposition to war, corruption, and lawlessness. However, dissent in Putin’s Russia is not an easy task.

Authorities have fiercely suppressed anti-war protests and dissenting voices, with numerous detentions and limited civic space. The Russian opposition’s goals are now restrained to influencing individual moral values, lacking the political power to engage in collective action.

Despite the restricted environment, activists such as Boris Vishnevsky and Lev Shlosberg, along with international supporters, continue to voice their dissatisfaction by spoiling the ballot and openly criticizing the system.

The Future of Russia

Sam Greene, a Russian politics professor, suggests that Putin holds elections to avoid jeopardizing his seemingly unanimous mandate from the Russian people due to the potential threat posed by the elite. Maintaining control of the masses is crucial for Putin to sustain his unfettered power.

Although Putin appears confident in his electoral success, the opposition, including activists like Ksenia Maximova and Vladimir Ashurkov, holds hope for eventual democratic change but recognizes they are currently incapable of toppling Putin.

Russia’s electoral system, considered by many to be orchestrated and manipulated by the government, perpetuates a state of quasi-martial law, quelling any desire for real change in the Russian political landscape.

Conclusion

Russia’s upcoming presidential election is expected to secure Vladimir Putin’s continued reign as the nation’s leader. Despite widespread criticism of the authoritarian control he exercises, a combination of power consolidation and a highly controlled political landscape ensures his dominance. Coupled with a restricting legal environment and the suppression of dissent, Putin’s electoral triumph appears inevitable.