VLADIMIR Putin has been re-elected for a second consecutive six-year term, allowing him to rule until 2024 - but opponents are calling out ‘unprecedented violations’ in the vote.
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has won a landslide re-election victory, extending his rule over the world’s largest country for another six years at a time when his ties with the West are on a hostile trajectory.
The vote was tainted by widespread reports of ballot-box stuffing and forced voting, but the complaints will likely do little to undermine Mr Putin.
His thumping victory overnight will extend his total time in office to nearly a quarter of a century, until 2024, by which time he will be 71. Only Soviet dictator Josef Stalin ruled for longer.
Mr Putin has promised to use his new term to beef-up Russia’s defences against the West and to raise living standards.
He addressed thousands of people who rallied outside the Kremlin to thank them for their support and promised new achievements. Speaking to a crowd who attended a pop concert near the Kremlin marking his election victory, Mr Putin hailed those who voted for him as a “big national team,” adding that “we are bound for success.” He said that the nation needs unity to move forward and urged the audience to “think about the future of our great motherland.” He then led the enthusiastic crowd to chant “Russia!”
Results from more than half of precincts showed Putin winning over 75 percent of the vote, with Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin and ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky trailing far behind with about 13 and 6 percent, respectively.
An exit poll by pollster VTsIOM showed Putin, who has already dominated the political landscape for the past 18 years, had won 73.9 per cent of the vote. Backed by state TV, the ruling party, and credited with an approval rating around 80 per cent, his victory was never in doubt.
None of the seven candidates who ran against him posed a threat, and opposition leader Alexei Navalny was barred from running.
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has won a landslide re-election victory, extending his rule over the world’s largest country for another six years at a time when his ties with the West are on a hostile trajectory.
The vote was tainted by widespread reports of ballot-box stuffing and forced voting, but the complaints will likely do little to undermine Mr Putin.
His thumping victory overnight will extend his total time in office to nearly a quarter of a century, until 2024, by which time he will be 71. Only Soviet dictator Josef Stalin ruled for longer.
Mr Putin has promised to use his new term to beef-up Russia’s defences against the West and to raise living standards.
He addressed thousands of people who rallied outside the Kremlin to thank them for their support and promised new achievements. Speaking to a crowd who attended a pop concert near the Kremlin marking his election victory, Mr Putin hailed those who voted for him as a “big national team,” adding that “we are bound for success.” He said that the nation needs unity to move forward and urged the audience to “think about the future of our great motherland.” He then led the enthusiastic crowd to chant “Russia!”
Results from more than half of precincts showed Putin winning over 75 percent of the vote, with Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin and ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky trailing far behind with about 13 and 6 percent, respectively.
An exit poll by pollster VTsIOM showed Putin, who has already dominated the political landscape for the past 18 years, had won 73.9 per cent of the vote. Backed by state TV, the ruling party, and credited with an approval rating around 80 per cent, his victory was never in doubt.
None of the seven candidates who ran against him posed a threat, and opposition leader Alexei Navalny was barred from running.
