Vladimir Putin, the longest-serving Kremlin leader since dictator Josef Stalin, who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953, has been re-elected as the President of Russia for another six years and secured himself a fifth term in office, Reuters has reported.
Exit polls and first results by pollster FOM revealed on Sunday, that Mr Putin received a record 87.8 percent win in the presidential election, which will make him the longest-serving Russian leader since dictator Josef Stalin.
The polls, which ended at 8pm Moscow time, made it the country’s first-ever three-day election.
The outcome of the poll, which makes it the highest ever result in Russia’s post-Soviet history, means Mr Putin will remain in office until 2030, when he will still be free to contest for another term.
He had in 2020, ensured the passing of new laws that allowed for six-term limits, which will enable him rule until 2036, when he will by then be 71-year-old.
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Opposition figures were not allowed to contest the election after trumped-up technicalities were brought up against them, while three others on the ballot were said to be Kremlin supporters.
However, the opposition and their supporters had earlier in the day staged a protest at several polling stations in Moscow and St Petersburg, challenging his victory.
They alleged that ballot-box stuffing and forced voting took place while residents in Russian occupied Ukrainian territories were allegedly forced to vote in the election.
OVD-Info, a group that monitors crackdowns on dissent, revealed that at least 74 people were arrested on Sunday.
Similarly, the past two days of the election witnessed some Russians either setting voting booths ablaze or pouring green dye into ballot boxes, while pictures of some ballots had insulting slogans against Putin.
Demonstrations against the result also reportedly took place in Tokyo, Bangkok, as well as at Russian embassies in European capitals.
With the victory, Mr Putin, who has been in power since 1999, overtakes NJosef Stalin to become the country’s longest-serving leader for over 200 years.
