Early voting for Russia's March presidential election began on Sunday in the occupied territories of Ukraine, where the conflict is entering its third year, as well as in remote regions of Russia, the world's largest country.
The elections, which will take place across the rest of Russia on March 14, come amid a ban on criticism of Russia's offensive in Ukraine and after the death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Vladimir…
Early voting for Russia's March presidential election began on Sunday in the occupied territories of Ukraine, where the conflict is entering its third year, as well as in remote regions of Russia, the world's largest country.
The elections, which will take place across the rest of Russia on March 14, come amid a ban on criticism of Russia's offensive in Ukraine and after the death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Vladimir Putin, in power since 1999, will face no real opposition in this election, which should guarantee him a new six-year mandate in the Kremlin.
Even though no independent candidate was allowed to run against Putin, a high voter turnout is important for the Russian government to show the people's unity behind the president.
The Kremlin-appointed head of the occupied zone of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, posted a photo on social media of soldiers in a makeshift election office.
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This location, captured by Russian forces in March 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, is in a combat zone.
Little information has been leaked about the organization of elections in other Russian-occupied territories since the offensive began two years ago.
On the contrary, authorities gave details of how they sent helicopters and snowmobiles to collect votes from isolated people such as reindeer herders in remote areas of Siberia.
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