The presidential elections in Russia have started and the Russian people have until Sunday to cast their votes. But there is essentially no doubt about the incumbent party’s victory. Susanne Scholl, former ORF correspondent in Russia, also knows: “You can’t really talk about elections at all.”
Opinion polls in the Russian government show that Putin, who has been in power for almost a quarter of a century and is seeking a fifth term, already has more than 80 percent of the vote. This would be his best result yet. His three opponents are not only considered to have no chance, but sometimes even directly support the sitting president and follow the Kremlin’s line. Boris Nadezhdin wanted to challenge the incumbent Vladimir Putin in the presidential elections in Russia. But the election commission officially rejected it.
“He was not allowed in because he was the only one who actually tried to do something like opposition, in a very soft tone and without any attack. But against Putin. And Putin won’t allow that. There should be no opposition to him in the country,” said Susanne Scholl.
Even before the official elections in Russia, “voting” began in the Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhia, some of which are occupied by Russia. But is that even allowed?
“Actually, they are Ukrainian citizens, but for Putin they are no longer so. Putin has started distributing Russian passports there and he wants to add these areas to Russia at all costs. And he does. The question is whether the people in Ukraine will play along,” Scholl said.
Elections start with protests
In St. Petersburg, a 20-year-old woman tried to throw a Molotov cocktail at a polling station on Friday, according to the election authority. Attacks were also announced on various social media platforms by unknown people using videos. Susanne Scholl knows that this is of course a serious threat, especially because terrible attacks have already taken place in Moscow. “Hostage takings, bombs in the subway, we all know that,” said the former ORF correspondent.
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Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
