As Vladimir Putin returns to power, the West condemns Russian elections as ‘unfair’ and ‘illegal’

Russian President Vladimir Putin won the country’s presidential elections with a sweeping majority on Sunday, securing his fifth term as the nation’s leader. The former KGB lieutenant colonel won 87.8 per cent of votes, reported the news agency Reuters, adding that the vote share crossed exit poll predictions and is the largest victory in Russia’s post-Soviet history.

However, the results have been met with criticism from Western countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, among others, who accused Putin of winning through an unfair electoral process held amidst the imprisonment of opposition leaders.

The election comes a month after the death of Russia’s leading opposition voice, Alexei Navalny, who had been sentenced to 19 years in prison over extremism allegations. His demise, which Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov termed “murder”, had kicked off protests across the world.

How the world reacted

The US said that the Russian polls were neither free nor fair. “The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him,” the White House National Security Council spokesperson said, as per Reuters.

The US mission to the United Nations, in an official statement issued on March 15, also condemned the Kremlin for holding elections in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. “ Holding elections in another UN member state’s territory without its consent is in manifest disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such elections have no validity under international law,” said the statement issued on behalf of over 50 nations including the European Union, France, Australia, and Japan. 

Former UK PM and current Foreign Minister David Cameron called the Russian presidential elections “illegal” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like.”

The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring.

This is not what free and fair elections look like.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 17, 2024

The German Foreign Ministry said on X that the results of the Russian presidential elections will “suprise nobody”.

“The pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin’s rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The ‘election’ in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law,” it said.

The pseudo-election in #Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin’s rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The “election“ in the occupied territories of #Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law.

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 17, 2024

In an official statement issued on March 17, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the elections as “illegal, unfair, and not free”.

“The Kremlin’s unlawful decision to conduct the election in the temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine deserves particular condemnation. It is an ostentatious violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter, and may only be treated as another attempt to undermine Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” it said.

Russia’s presidential election is not legal, free and fair.

The entire statement ⬇️ https://t.co/jKpxK4f1eB

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇵🇱 (@PolandMFA) March 17, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said that Putin is “sick with power.”

These days, the Russian dictator imitates another “elections.” Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever.

There is no evil he would not do to maintain his personal… pic.twitter.com/zu1see37kl

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 17, 2024

“These days, the Russian dictator imitates another “elections.” Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

“This imitation of “elections” has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up on the dock in The Hague. This is what we must ensure. Anyone in the world who values life and decency,” he added.

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