Surprising no one, Russia’s incumbent president Vladimir Putin cinched reelection for a fifth term Sunday. The “exit polls” show Putin winning 87 percent of the vote compared to 76.69 percent in his last election. Nationwide turnout was 74.22 percent when polls closed, election officials said, surpassing 2018 levels of 67.5 percent.
🗳🇷🇺 Latest results of vote counting pic.twitter.com/pgy0jmyU5J
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 18, 2024
In a post-election news conference, Putin thanked the voters for their “support and trust.” He said the top priority during his next term will be strengthening Russia’s defenses and pursuing the Special Military Operation. He commented on Alexei Navalny for the first time ever.
While taking reporters’ questions following his victory speech, Putin claimed a deal to release imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, prior to his death, had been…
