Moscow, 19 April 2024, (TDI): Vladimir Putin has won the Russian presidential elections, embarking on his 5th presidential term, getting some 87% of the vote, according to the reports.
In a post-election news conference, President Putin described the results as validation of his choice to challenge the West and carry out the invasion of Ukraine.
“No matter who or how much they want to intimidate us, no matter who or how much they want to suppress us, our will, our consciousness no one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history,” Putin said in an address from his campaign headquarters early on Monday morning. “It has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never.”
Criticism of Russian Elections
Many of the Western states have criticized the Russian elections describing them as unfair and illegitimate. The White House’s National Security Council spokesperson condemned the elections, stating that they are neither free nor fair.
“The elections are not free nor fair given how Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him,” he said.
Moreover, the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that the vote was “not what free and fair elections look like”.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the election fraud, stating, “This election fraud has no legitimacy and cannot have any.”
Also Read: President Putin congratulates Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
Russia’s Allies Response to Putin’s Victory
On the other hand, Russian allies such as China, Iran, and Venezuela immediately congratulated Putin on his election.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said President Xi Jinping and Putin “will continue to maintain close exchanges, lead the two countries to continue to uphold longstanding good-neighbourly friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination”.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said: “Our older brother has triumphed, which bodes well for the world.” Similarly, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi congratulated Vladimir Putin on his “decisive” victory and re-election as the President of the Russian Federation.
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