Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Russia’s presidential elections on Wednesday following President Vladimir Putin's re-election in a big win with no real opposition.
Blinken called the election “undemocratic,” pointing to the Putin government’s choice to exclude two candidates from the ballot who were against the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Blinken stated, “Russia’s recent presidential election happened in a climate of severe suppression of independent voices and the imprisonment, death, or exile of almost all genuine political opposition.” He added, “The Kremlin has consistently marginalized groups pushing for democratic processes and rule of law, including election monitors.”
He further said, “These actions demonstrate how much the Kremlin has deprived its citizens of a transparent, meaningful democratic process. Considering this, you can only label this election as undemocratic.”
The secretary’s remarks come shortly after the passing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned for opposing Putin. The U.S. government and other western leaders have accused Putin of being responsible for his death, referring to previous attempts on his life.
Blinken mentioned that Navalny endured “years of harassment and harsh treatment from Russian authorities for persistently striving for real democracy in Russia.”
Putin easily won Putin won the election on Tuesday with around 87 percent of the vote, despite widespread dissent within the country against his nearly 25-year rule.
Blinken also condemned the Russian government for censoring media and expressed support for the anti-Putin demonstrators in the country.
“Vladimir Putin is preventing Russian citizens from accessing information, including for political participation,” Blinken emphasized. “Regardless of the predictable outcome of this election, the United States will continue to stand with those striving for a better future for Russia.”
