Vladimir Putin addresses Red Square crowds after landslide win as West condemns ‘undemocratic’ election | World News

Vladimir Putin has been cheered through massive crowds in central Moscow next securing his 5th time period as Russian president – in what Western international locations have condemned as an “undemocratic” election.

Hundreds of nation had accumulated for an open-air live performance to praise the tenth yearly of the Russian annexation of Crimea, which is the world over recognised as a part of Ukraine.

In Moscow’s Crimson Sq., they greeted Mr Putin who gained greater than 87% of the votes, in keeping with the rustic’s central election fee.

Ukraine war latest: All glory to Russia,’ Putin tells Red Square

The president, who is ready to increase his similar 25-year rule till 2030, received his highest-ever tally of just about 76 million votes, the fee added.

Mr Putin used to be joined on level through his 3 token challengers, Nikolai Kharitonov, Leonid Slutsky and Vladislav Davankov, as he informed the crowds “all glory to Russia”, forward of the Russian nationwide anthem taking part in.

In 2022, Moscow seized 4 alternative Ukraine areas which it declared portions of Russia, in movements denounced as unlawful through maximum nations on the UN.

Mr Putin informed the crowds that the “return” of the ones alternative areas to Russia had ended up being “much more grave and tragic” than Crimea’s, however it have been completed.

Sunday used to be the latter of 3 days of voting that presented Russians disagree actual choices to Mr Putin next he ruthlessly cracked ailing on dissent.

At a information convention, Mr Putin stated his election victory confirmed that the nation had “trust” and “hope” in him.

He stated protests had “no effect” and any “crimes” could be punished next the vote.

He additionally referenced his fiercest political foe Alexei Navalny through identify for the primary past in years when he mentioned he have been in a position to loose him in a switch for unidentified inmates in Western custody days ahead of the opposition chief’s demise.

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Mr Putin additionally stated the presence of Western troops in Ukraine will “lead the world to the brink of World War Three” however didn’t suppose somebody used to be focused on any such situation.

The election took playground next a constant crackdown on dissent – and amid assaults inside of Russia through Ukrainian missiles and drones, that have killed a number of nation.

Detached tracking of the election used to be very restricted and analysts stated on-line polling intended the vote used to be extremely liable to manipulation.

Additionally, any folk grievance of Mr Putin or his warfare in Ukraine used to be stifled, with critics both in prison or in exile.

British International Secretary David Cameron stated: “These Russian elections starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putin’s regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war.

“Putin gets rid of his political fighters, controls the media, and nearest crowns himself the winner. This isn’t sovereignty.”

Mr Navalny’s friends had prompt the ones unsatisfied with Mr Putin or the warfare to protest through coming to the polls at midday on Sunday – and contours out of doors plenty of polling stations each inside of Russia and at its embassies around the globe gave the impression to swell at that past.

Amongst the ones heeding the decision used to be Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalny’s widow, who joined a protracted layout on the Russian Embassy in Berlin as some within the community applauded and chanted her identify.

She spent greater than 5 hours within the queue and informed journalists next casting her vote that she wrote her overdue husband’s identify at the poll.

The OVD-Data staff that displays political arrests stated 80 nation have been arrested in 20 towns throughout Russia on Sunday.