Vote-rigging, protest ‘crackdown’: Foreign press on Putin’s victory — RT

Voting in Russia has been marred by widespread fraud and violations and Vladimir Putin might find it hard to rule the country he has transformed: that is the verdict the foreign press passed on the outcome of Russia’s presidential elections.

A number of British and American news outlets highlighted alleged violations and vote-rigging at the polling stations during the presidential vote on Sunday.

British daily The Guardian, citing independent monitors and opposition activists, reported numerous falsifications, including ballot-stuffing and so-called “carousel” voting, when groups of voters move from one polling station to another, casting their ballots repeatedly. Many also referred to reports of the illegal use of absentee ballots, and quoted opposition activists who said that with such a rigged victory, Vladimir Putin could not be considered a legitimate leader. 

“It’s not an election,” the Wall Street Journal cited Aleksey Navalny, the anti-corruption blogger and activist, as saying.“Putin had a chance to make at least the counting fair, but he didn’t. Tomorrow we’ll wake up in a country where a large chunk of society doesn’t see Mr. Putin as a legitimate president.”  

Following Sunday’s poll Vladimir Putin, who won a landslide victory, will have to deal with a country which has changed greatly since the moment he first came to power, the Washington Post believes.

While back in the 2000s “Russians were impoverished” and “uncertain” of what lay ahead for the country, now a “more prosperous middle class” is becoming increasingly unhappy with the ongoing situation, says the newspaper.  

“Putin <…> finds himself in unfamiliar circumstances,” the report says. “Since December, he has been the target of huge demonstrations in which many thousands have found the courage and solidarity to speak out against him. The outcome of Sunday’s election is unlikely to quell their demands for an honest government that listens to them.” 

The newspaper adopted a cautious tone, saying it is still unclear how Vladimir Putin will react to growing anger over alleged election fraud. It said that while Putin might decide to “crack down” on the opposition, the option of the “autocratic regime” bringing in gradual reforms might also be on the table.

As for the Russian protest movement itself, the election results will present it with a serious test of endurance, another newspaper, the Wall Street Journal believes.

“The loosely organized protest movement now faces a test of its ability to keep up the pressure, starting with a Monday evening rally in downtown Moscow,” the report said.

The British Daily Mail newspaper cited former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s calls for opposition groups and opponents of Putin not to surrender.

“These are not going to be honest elections, but we must not relent,” Gorbachev was quoted as saying. “Honest elections should be our constant motto for years to come.”

Despite opposition reports of widespread vote-rigging, a number of foreign observers, including Finnish, Italian, Serbian and Bulgarian nationals, said the poll had been without serious violations. Some lauded the video monitoring system installed to make the elections more transparent as “exceeding all international standards.”

Vote-rigging, protest ‘crackdown’: Foreign press on Putin’s victory — RT.

About Laura

I am a starseed, possibly from the Pleiadies or Andromeda. I am on this journey since age 3, so.. for 35 years.. and i am doing spiritual group work for over 15 years also. I enjoy poetry, music, nature, animals, joking, having fun, listening to spirit. I have connected with many star beings, from various worlds, humanoid or not. Connections happen while awake or in dream like state. Shall we expand our consciousness together.

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2 Comments on “Vote-rigging, protest ‘crackdown’: Foreign press on Putin’s victory — RT”

1. Pingback: ‘Putin to challenge world order that Washington wants’ « This Day – One Day

2. Pingback: protesting what shouldn’t be « JRFibonacci's blog: partnering with reality

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