Associated Press
Voters across Russia cast ballots Saturday on the second day of an election set to formalize six more years of power for President Vladimir Putin, who faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissent over his nearly quarter-century of rule.
The election comes against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has stifled independent media and prominent rights groups. Putin’s fiercest foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.
The 71-year-old Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of him or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin has cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as an existential battle against the U.S. and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia.
Officials said voting was proceeding in an orderly fashion. But despite tight controls, at least a half-dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported Friday and Saturday, including a firebombing and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent homage to Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant who splashed green disinfectant in his face.
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
6 comments
Andy
March 16, 2024 at 9:48 pm
Russia? How about the hijacked GOP ‘MAGA’ party who will follow their ‘HEEL SPuR’ Patriot and not support any enemy of Russia? They will let Ukraine fall, Africa fall, and South America fall all because they cannot comprehend what former President Bush stated, ‘fight them over there and defeat them, or fight them here’ but no one said they had intelligence
PeterH
March 17, 2024 at 1:28 am
Meanwhile as reported by NYT Russians living in Ukraine have been aligning with Ukrainian solders and attacking inside of Russia.
Republicans need to wake up and start funding military aid to Ukraine.
Putin will never be a friend of Democracy or the USA!
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" American
March 17, 2024 at 3:20 am
Good Morn’ting Sage Patriots and Dook 4 Brains leftys Andy & Peter H,
AS RUSH TOLD US:
Leftists are ALWAYS what they accuse us Sage Patriots of being.
The left dreams of being just like Putin.
AND THAT IS “THE REST OF THE STORY”;
This Golden Nugget of Sage Truth has been brought to you by “THE BIG VOICE ON THE RIGHT” ‘Lil ”Ole Me, Earl Pitts American.
*FREE BUMPER STICKER*
*RELAX YOUR SPHINCTER AMERICA*
rick whitaker
March 19, 2024 at 4:50 pm
CAUTION TROLL COMMENT BY EARL THE SPHINCTER LOVER PITTS
It’s Complicated
March 17, 2024 at 11:21 am
The reason Putin’s the three “rivals” on the ballot were allowed to live is because they are token status. He’ll likely ruin them after the election.
rick whitaker
March 19, 2024 at 5:22 pm
IT’S COMPLICATED, WOW, I DIDN’T KNOW THAT. YOU ARE SO ON TOP OF IT.
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