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

Vladimir Putin has been cheered by massive crowds in central Moscow after securing his fifth time period as Russian president – in what Western nations have condemned as an “undemocratic” election.

Thousands of individuals had gathered for an open-air live performance to have fun the tenth anniversary of the Russian annexation of Crimea, which is internationally recognised as a part of Ukraine.

In Moscow’s Red Square, they greeted Mr Putin who acquired greater than 87% of the votes, in keeping with the nation’s central election fee.

Ukraine conflict newest: All glory to Russia,’ Putin tells Red Square

The president, who is about to increase his close to 25-year rule till 2030, gained his highest-ever tally of almost 76 million votes, the fee added.

Mr Putin was joined on stage by his three token challengers, Nikolai Kharitonov, Leonid Slutsky and Vladislav Davankov, as he advised the crowds “all glory to Russia”, forward of the Russian nationwide anthem taking part in.

In 2022, Moscow seized 4 different Ukraine areas which it declared components of Russia, in actions denounced as unlawful by most international locations on the UN.

Mr Putin advised the crowds that the “return” of these different areas to Russia had ended up being “much more grave and tragic” than Crimea’s, nevertheless it had been completed.

Sunday was the final of three days of balloting that provided Russians no actual options to Mr Putin after he ruthlessly cracked down on dissent.

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

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

He additionally referenced his fiercest political foe Alexei Navalny by title for the primary time in years when he said he had been able to launch him in a swap for unidentified inmates in Western custody days earlier than the opposition chief’s dying.

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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 anybody was eager about such a situation.

The election befell after a relentless crackdown on dissent – and amid assaults inside Russia by Ukrainian missiles and drones, which have killed a number of folks.

Independent monitoring of the election was very restricted and analysts stated on-line polling meant the vote was extremely prone to manipulation.

Also, any public criticism of Mr Putin or his conflict in Ukraine was stifled, with critics both in jail or in exile.

British Foreign 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 removes his political opponents, controls the media, after which crowns himself the winner. This is just not democracy.”

Mr Navalny’s associates had urged these sad with Mr Putin or the conflict to protest by coming to the polls at midday on Sunday – and features exterior various polling stations each inside Russia and at its embassies around the globe appeared to swell at the moment.

Among these heeding the decision was Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalny’s widow, who joined an extended line on the Russian Embassy in Berlin as some within the crowd applauded and chanted her title.

She spent greater than 5 hours within the queue and advised reporters after casting her vote that she wrote her late husband’s title on the poll.

The OVD-Info group that displays political arrests stated 80 folks had been arrested in 20 cities throughout Russia on Sunday.