Observers complain of unprecedented violations of Russian elections. Russians voted and protested against Putin in nine countries

Election observers from the independent Russian organization Golos have complained of unprecedented violations in the presidential election. The organization being prosecuted in Russia said on Monday that it was an “imitation” but not a vote in which voters saw their rights protected.

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin received 87.3 percent of the vote for his fifth term – more than ever before in Russian presidential elections. “We have never seen a presidential election that did so little to meet the standards of the Constitution,” Golos said.

The entire state apparatus turned to propaganda, coercion and voter control. In addition, war censorship was introduced using fear mongering and violence, the statement continued. Particularly on Sunday, the last day of the three-day voting, security forces punished voters for “incorrectly” filling out ballots. People were also forced to break the secrecy of voting. “Nothing like this has ever happened before in any election,” the report said.

According to Golos, organizers also did everything they could to prevent the election from being observed. Independent observers were not allowed to enter polling stations and there was no access to video surveillance footage. In previous elections, videos published on the Internet provided important evidence, for example of the widespread stuffing of ballot boxes with pre-filled ballots. It was impossible for voters to form and express free will. Therefore, the results could not reflect the mood, it said.

The protection mechanism against a power grab, enshrined in the Russian Constitution, had already been dismantled, Golos’ statement continued. Putin had the constitution amended in 2020 to give himself additional terms in office. Originally two terms were allowed, but after the end of that period and a four-year break, Putin decided on another two terms from 2012. Under the current constitution, he can run for his sixth and final term in 2030.

This time no observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), whose assessment is important for the international recognition of a result, were invited to the elections. The Central Election Commission in Moscow announced on Monday that there were no complaints about violations during the elections. (rbu/sda/dpa)