Russia formalized Thursday. President Vladimir Putin’s win in last week’s presidential election defied harsh criticism from the West and independent Russian observers that it was the most corrupt vote in post-Soviet history.
The three-day poll last weekend saw Putin easily win a fifth Kremlin term, with no real opposition.
The election was also held in occupied Ukraine, with voting taking place two years after Moscow launched its attack.
According to Russia’s election commissioner Ella Pamfilova, Putin received 87.28 percent of the vote in the last round.
She dubbed the election, which extends Putin’s 24-year rule by another six years, “historic.”
Pamfilova reported a turnout of 77.49 percent.
Despite the fact that Putin’s victory was almost certain, the Kremlin pushed Russians to vote out of patriotism.
After the final results were announced on Thursday, the Russian leader thanked Russians for their “support” in an address.
Pamfilova declared a “very clean” election campaign, dismissing Western criticism.
“This is not the first time we have heard this,” she added.
Putin defeated three other hand-picked opponents, each of whom won a small proportion of the vote.
Neither of them had overtly challenged Putin, but Pamfilova claimed the voting was fair and competitive.
“It’s a new type of opposition. They don’t always agree and may have criticisms. “But they are pro-Russian,” she stated.
“Unlike others who are anti-Russian opposition in the current conditions when there is a war,” she continued, apparently referring to Putin’s opponents who have been forced to flee.
Thousands joined the opposition’s appeal to create long lines around lunchtime on the final day of voting.
The election was also marred by ballot tampering, with people around Russia pouring green dye into ballot boxes in protest.
Pamfilova stated that “30 ballot boxes were covered in green dye” but that “most (ballots) were saved.”
Putin claimed Russian ballot spoilers should be “dealt with” in his victory speech.
On Wednesday, a Saint Petersburg court sentenced a woman who spoiled her ballot to eight days in jail.