Vladimir Putin secured his fifth term as president of Russia in Sunday’s election. The victory gives Putin another 6-years as the head of state and will make him the longest-serving leader in modern Russian history.
Putin only ran against Kremlin-approved opposition candidates and his election was widely expected in an election that was considered by European leaders as neither free, nor fair. But despite a crackdown on criticism of Putin and his policies, thousands of Russians went to the polls at noon in a protest called for by supporters of deceased opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Long lines were seen at polling places in Moscow, St. Petersburg and outside Russian embassies in Europe at that time. Many wrote Navalny’s name on the ballot while others protested more overtly. One voter was caught destroying ballots with dye while others set fire to, or threw Molotov cocktails at, polling stations.
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