Chaos on Election Day in Russia: Violence and Vandalism at Voting Centers – Last Minute World News
People in Russia are heading to the polls today for the presidential election, which will last until Sunday. The start of the elections was met with protests, with incidents of violence reported in St. Petersburg, where a voting center was attacked with Molotov cocktails. Additionally, there were reports of voters pouring green antiseptic paint, known as zelyonka, into ballot boxes.
In response to these incidents, Russia’s Central Election Commission has called for increased security measures. Deputy Chairman Nikolai Bulayev suggested that individuals may have been offered incentives to disrupt the voting process. In the Rostov region, a 62-year-old man has been charged with obstruction of the right to vote, facing a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
The online voting system also experienced technical difficulties, leading to speculation that workers were being forced to vote in large numbers. The elections, in which three other candidates are competing against current President Vladimir Putin, will last three days, with voting taking place in over 80 federal districts.
Putin, who is expected to win, could potentially remain in office until 2036 due to a constitutional amendment passed in 2020. The legitimacy of the government will be closely watched, with the Kremlin aiming for at least a 70 percent turnout and 80 percent of the votes for Putin. In 2018, Putin received 76.7 percent of the votes, and the outcomes of this election will be crucial for the future of Russia.
