On Sunday, the last day of a presidential election that is sure to solidify Vladimir Putin’s dictatorial control, opponents of the Kremlin called for large-scale demonstrations at Russian polling places.
Numerous deadly Ukrainian bombardments and numerous intrusions into Russian territory by pro-Ukrainian saboteur organizations have already clouded the three-day vote.
In the early days of voting, there have also been protests, as seen by the numerous Russians who have been arrested on charges of setting fire attacks or putting dye into vote boxes.
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who inspired large-scale anti-Putin rallies, asked Russians to demonstrate on Sunday before his death in an Arctic prison last month.
His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has reiterated his call in the run-up to the election and said protesters should show up in large numbers at the same time to overwhelm polling stations.
She urged demonstrators to vote for candidates other than Putin or to tamper with ballots by putting “Navalny” on them.
Since the beginning of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, any public dissent in Russia has been met with severe consequences, and the authorities have issued numerous warnings against electoral protests.
A Moscow resident in his twenties told AFP he would take part in the protest at 12:00 pm (0900 GMT) in the capital, “just to see young supportive faces around… feel some support around me, and see the light in this dark tunnel.”
The man, who declined to give his name for security reasons, said he hoped the demonstration would show the authorities “that there are people in this country against the conflict… against the regime.”
