Thousands of people have lined up in London to vote in Russia’s presidential election, with many denouncing the outcome as fake.
A long line of expatriates was observed gathered outside the Russian embassy in the city today, and the line extended about half a mile down Lancaster Gate.
Many of those waiting to vote held up signs supporting Ukraine and criticizing current Russian president Vladimir Putin, who is nearly certain to be declared the winner once the results are in.
And Metro.co.uk has seen images of some of the spoiled ballots submitted today, which include drawings of phalluses and other things.
Putin has put in a lot of effort to remove any real opposition in Russia since starting his invasion of Ukraine two years ago – particularly with the passing in prison last month of anti-corruption investigator, journalist, and politician Alexei Navalny.
More recently, the Kremlin made a choice to prohibit at least two other candidates who had opposed the war in Ukraine from appearing on the ballot.
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Other opponents currently in prison include politician Ilya Yashin and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, while Leonid Volkov, one of Navalny’s main allies, was recently attacked with a hammer in Latvia, where he is currently residing.
Across Russia, voters came out en masse at noon today, following requests from Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya to overwhelm voting stations and ruin ballot papers as a form of protest against what has been widely criticized as a rigged fake election.
Many have crossed out the names of other candidates to replace them with that of Navalny, while others have included pro-Ukrainian and anti-war slogans.
Others still have taken their protests further, with video footage circulating online of various incidents of vandalism at polling booths and even minor acts of arson.
Putin’s government introduced constitutional changes in 2020 that made the current president eligible to seek two more six-year terms, allowing him to stay in power until 2036. He is presently 71 years old.
However, if he remains in power until that time, he will surpass Joseph Stalin as the country’s longest ruling leader since the fall of the Russian Empire in 1919.
Russia’s elections are taking place against a backdrop of progressively escalating Ukrainian drone attacks from within Russian territory.
At least 35 drone attacks were carried out on Sunday alone, aiming at important facilities like oil refineries, airports and electricity centers.
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