Russian President Vladimir Putin sounded optimistic after winning a fifth term in Russia’s presidential election over the weekend. He chose this moment to make his first public remarks on the death of his political rival, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, mentioning his name for the first time in years.
Exit polls on Sunday night showed that Putin won the Russian presidential election by a landslide of 87%, and the results of the polls among Russians in Russia and abroad were still being released on Monday morning.The head of Russia’s election authority said on Monday morning that voter turnout “Record-breaking, unprecedented” 77%higher than 67.7% in 2018.
On March 18, 2024, Russian President Putin met with the media at the campaign headquarters in Moscow.
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In this highly orchestrated election, Putin’s three “opponents” on the ticket – belonging to Russia’s “systemic” opposition – each received approximately 3% to 4% of the vote.
Anti-war candidates are banned from running in elections, and most Russian opposition figures are either in self-exile, imprisoned or killed in Russia, such as Navalny, who died last month in a Russian Arctic penal colony.
Navalny’s family and supporters have accused Putin of ordering Navalny’s execution. The Kremlin denied any involvement in the 47-year-old’s death, which Russian authorities said was of “natural causes”.
Putin talks about Navalny
Last night, Putin spoke to supporters and media at his campaign headquarters with a relaxed and upbeat tone, pledging to defend and strengthen Russia. He also used the moment to comment publicly on Navalny’s death for the first time and mention his most vocal critic by name in public for the first time in years.
On March 18, 2024, in Moscow, Russia, Russian presidential candidate and current President Vladimir Putin gave a speech after the polling station closed.
Maxim Shemetov | Reuters
When asked about Navalny’s death by NBC’s Keir Simmons, Putin responded by calling his death a “sad event” and claiming he was ready to let him Varney participated in prisoner exchanges with the West.
“As for Mr. Navalny. He died, which is always a sad event. Well, we have had other examples of people dying in prison. Hasn’t this happened in the United States? It has happened, and Not just once,” Putin told the assembled media and supporters Sunday night in comments translated by NBC.
“By the way, this will be unexpected, but a few days before Mr. Navalny’s death, some of my colleagues and government employees told me that there was an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for prisoners in prisons in Western countries. Some people, believe it or not, before the person I’m talking to has even finished speaking, I say, “I agree! ” he claimed.
Putin said he had agreed to the proposal on the condition that Navalny would never return to Russia because he was a puppet of the Russian opposition movement.
“But unfortunately, what happened has happened,” Putin said, adding, “Things like this happen and there’s nothing you can do about it. That’s life.”
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stood in front of a projection of Alexei Navalny’s portrait and presented him with the Bambi Award for Courage during the 75th Bambi Awards Ceremony held at the Bavarian Film Studio. Prize competition. With jailed Kremlin rival Alexei Navalny showing no signs of life for days, concerns about the 47-year-old are growing.
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Navalny’s supporters said last month that Russian and Western officials were in advanced talks about a possible prisoner exchange before Navalny’s sudden death, which was announced on February 16.
Last month, Navalny’s allies also said they were working with Russian and Western officials on Prisoner exchange involving Navalny underway. Maria Pevchikh, a long-time aide to the politician, said talks were in their final stages just days before the Kremlin critic’s sudden and unexplained death.
‘that character’
Putin is rumored to hate Navalny and even refuses to name his biggest critic. Putin’s comments on Sunday night are believed to be the first time in years that he has mentioned Navalny’s real name.
The Moscow Times noted last month that Putin had not directly mentioned the Kremlin’s biggest rival since 2017. Instead, he called Navalny “that character,” “that gentleman,” “a poor excuse for a politician” and “some kind of political force.”
The Russian media took Putin’s cue and dropped Navalny from their media coverage. Last night, reporting on Putin’s comments, they described the opposition leader as a “blogger”. Russian media barely mentioned the opposition leader’s death.
predictable victory
During Putin’s 24 years in power, opposition figures were harassed, intimidated and imprisoned, and many died mysteriously.
Panoramic view of the headquarters of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) in Moscow, Russia, on March 17, 2024.Preliminary official results show that Putin won the Russian presidential election with 87.97% of the vote
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The elimination of political opponents has made Putin’s re-election a foregone conclusion in recent elections, and the Kremlin is thought to be seeking a landslide victory in 2024 to legitimize Putin’s foreign policy, particularly the war in Ukraine.
“We have a lot of tasks ahead of us. But when we are united, no matter who wants to intimidate us and suppress us, no one has succeeded in history, has not succeeded now, and will not succeed in the future,” he said. He spoke to supporters and media late Sunday night, according to comments translated by Reuters.
Russia’s pro-Kremlin media praised Putin’s record victory, which RIA Novosti called a “record in modern Russian history.” By the end of his next term in 2030, Putin will surpass Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin to become the longest-serving leader in Russia’s modern history.
Expatriate Russian citizens, including a young group holding anti-Vladimir Putin placards, wait to vote at the Russian Embassy during the Russian elections in Berlin, Germany, March 17, 2024.
Sean Gallup | Getty Images
The United States, Britain, Ukraine and other countries condemned Russia’s latest vote as “neither free nor fair.”
Thousands of Russians living abroad lined up to cast their votes at polling stations outside the Russian embassy, with many taking part in the “noon anti-Putin” protest after Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya appealed to voters Spoil the ballot or vote for any candidate other than Putin.
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