MOSCOW – Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has clinched his fifth term in the Russian presidential election, securing nearly 88 percent of the vote.
International media reports indicate that the voter turnout in Moscow’s latest polls exceeded the previous election, with 74.22 percent of people casting their ballots, compared to less than 70 percent in 2018. Several arrests were made, and incidents of vandalism were reported at multiple polling stations across Russia.
Putin garnered 87.9 percent of the votes, while his rival Nikolay Kharitonov managed only 4.7 percent, followed by Vladislav Davankov at 3.6 percent, and Leonid Slutsky at 2.5 percent.
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The 2024 presidential election faced criticism from the West for lack of genuine competition, as many potential rivals of Putin are either exiled or imprisoned.
With this landslide victory, Putin is set to remain in office for another six years, solidifying his position as the country’s longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin.
While support for Putin remains strong, there are signs of dissent, with some Russians lamenting the death of opposition figure Navalny and expressing discontent through protests.
A former intelligence officer, Putin has an estimated net worth of around $200 billion. During his tenure, he enacted laws that could potentially extend his time in office until 2036.
