Russian election: Vladimir Putin says he won’t rule until he’s 100
Presidential candidate, President Vladimir Putin addresses the crowd during a rally and a concert celebrating the fourth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea at Manezhnaya Square in Moscow on March 18, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Alexander Zemlianichenko (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/AFP/Getty Images)
Vladimir Putin won six more years as Russian president in an ‘election’ widely regarded as a sham Sunday.
The nationalist, anti-west, anti-LGBT leader was re-elected with more than 76 percent of the vote in a process that saw the main opposition leader banned from standing.
Addressing a rally in Moscow, Mr Putin said voters had “recognised the achievements of the last few years”.
Presidential candidate, President Vladimir Putin walks out of a voting booth (Getty)
Putin, 65, has been in power either as prime minister or president of Russia since 1999.
Experts have speculated that he will capitalise on the huge ‘election’ victory – which is up from 64 percent in 2012 – by consolidating his power as president.
Others have suggested that he is ‘trapped’ in power, as he could face serious repercussions from ‘enemies’ if he is no longer president.
Speaking to reporters after the results were announced, he laughed off a question about running again in another six years.
Presidential candidate, President Vladimir Putin
“What you are saying is a bit funny. Do you think that I will stay here until I’m 100 years old?”
He then added, laughing: “No!”
Mr Putin’s campaign team said it was an “incredible victory”.
“The percentage that we have just seen speaks for itself. It’s a mandate which Putin needs for future decisions, and he has a lot of them to make,” a spokesman told Russia’s Interfax.
Presidential candidate, President Vladimir Putin
Putin’s critics slammed the election as unfair, citing the Kremlin’s tight control over the media.
There were also reports of serious restrictions on some election monitors, with those in Russia to oversee a fair vote being deported.
There were also reports of live feeds at polling stations catching officials stuffing ballot boxes with papers, all of which Russia’s most senior election official denied.
Putin cast his ballot at a polling station in Moscow on Sunday morning, declaring that “the will of the people, the will of each Russian citizen, will determine the path the country will take”.
Presidential candidate, President Vladimir Putin votes at a polling station (Getty)
Russia’s Central Election Commission says the turnout in the presidential election has exceeded 50 percent.
The incumbent president urged Russians to “use their right to choose the future for the great Russia that we all love”.
He warned that failure to cast a ballot would mean that “this decisive choice will be made without your opinion taken into account”.
Much of the campaign has focussed on suggestions of Western powers trying to undermine Russia, with particular focus on the death of spy Sergei Skripal.
During his 18 years in power to date, Putin has backed many deeply homophobic laws.
Researchers found that hate crimes against the LGBT community have doubled since the introduction of an “anti-gay propaganda” law in Russia by Putin.
(Getty)
The law, which came into action five years ago, has seen a sharp spike in violent attacks across the country, reports Reuters.
200 out of the 250 crimes studied are acts of murder, according to the Centre for Independent Social Research.
Putin’s spokesperson also denied there was a purge against gay people in Chechnya.
He recently claimed that it is his “duty” to stop gay people getting married so that people have more babies.
(Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
The Russian President made the claim in an extended interview with pro-Russian journalist Oliver Stone, which aired on Showtime in the US.
In the interview, Putin explains the rationale behind his anti-LGBT policies.
He said: “I can tell you this… as head of state today, I believe it’s my duty to uphold traditional values and family values. Why? Because same-sex marriages will not produce any children.
Russian President Vladimir Putin with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (Getty)
“God has decided, and we have to care about birth rates in our country. We have to reinforce families.
“That doesn’t mean that there should be any persecution against anyone.”
He also rallied against same-sex adoption, claiming it’s better for children to grow up in a “traditional” family.
The Russian leader said: “I cannot say that [gay adoption[ is welcomed by our public.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
“I say this frankly. As in my view, children will have a freer choice when they become adults if they grow up in a traditional family.”
Same-sex adoption is banned in Russia.
He has denied the country has a “problem” with gay people, claiming: “Russia recognises and does not infringe on the rights of non-traditional sexual orientation.”
Putin also claimed that the country’s record of homophobia is not reality – and is a “label attached by other countries.”
He continued: “It is a label attached to the Russian Federation by other countries, especially by those which have criminal responsibility for people of non-traditional sexual orientation.
“[Homosexuality] is not the choice of our society, but those are people whose rights are not cut.
“[It’s not our] intention to persecute people of whatever non-traditional orientation.”
“We are not punishing anyone, but traditional family, healthy nation — those are our choices.
“One does not exclude the other, and one does not affect the other. I believe, a balanced approach like this is absolutely correct.”
