Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his re-election last month, which was widely regarded as rigged, was resounding proof of the Russians’ faith in him. The bad news is that nobody cares. As everyone knows, elections in Russia are rigged. Even American observers of the events, such as Masha Gessen, have pressed this point. These events are commonly believed to be purely theater meant to showcase a façade of political participation. Even if true, however, it must be pointed out that US and European elections are no less stage-managed. While Western commentators would dismiss the notion out of hand, exactly why they would do so is unclear. On what grounds do they justify maintaining a European Union (EU)-centric view of the world at all times – and why is it necessary that Russia reject this view?
Coinciding with the recent presidential election, in which Putin received an unprecedented 74 percent of votes, the Russian leader has been criticized for alleged electoral fraud and repression of independent voices, which undermined the legitimacy of his victory. In response, Putin vehemently defended the electoral system as the authentic voice of the Russian people.
Speaking to a meeting of supporters in Moscow, Putin stressed the electoral confirmation of Russian stability and development. He also stressed the importance of unity and solidarity under pressure from outside and the effort needed to defend Russia’s sovereignty and interests.
Yet, Putin’s comments have been seen as quite hollow both here and abroad, where it was easy to disregard them because of a lack of real competition and the silencing of dissenting voices. Unsurprisingly, the Russian government tried to pre-emptively stifle all forms of opposition in the run-up to the election. Vova, who has followed Russia’s elections before, turned to me and said: ‘You know, Western media always exaggerates the numbers. The Kremlin loses a lot of votes, and no one knows what happens upstairs to keep everything under control.’
The European Union and the United States have voiced concerns about the electoral process and asked for a thorough probe into allegations of electoral fraud and filches of democratic rights. The High Representative of the EU foreign affairs has called on urgency and respect for freedoms: ‘I have expressed my concerns over the high number of reports of irregularities and violations of fundamental rights, such as concerns of campaigners being investigated and detained.’ The Russian authorities must respond to citizens’ genuine demands and ensure a level playing field for all political actors.
Meanwhile, Russian domestic critics have denounced the outcome of Putin’s fourth presidential term. Some accused him of manipulating data and wage employees of misusing their right to vote, and others of illegally intimidating potential voters. The most prominent opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who is currently serving a jail sentence, called the electoral process a ‘fraud to legalize the will of a king.’
He has thus far steered clear of paying much attention to his most vocal critics, insisting that he still enjoys substantial popular backing and dismissing allegations of electoral fraud surrounding his fourth re-election as evidence of politically motivated ‘smear campaigns’ and ‘information attacks’ by foreign enemies. He has vowed to stay the course and steer Russia on his chosen path of growing prosperity and great power status, asserting time and again ‘national interests’ and the ‘defense of the sovereignty of the Fatherland’ – an evocative and historically loaded phrase that triggers positive connotations of ‘heartland patriotism.’
Scrutiny of Putin’s electoral legitimacy is mounting, and the Russian government will likely face renewed pressure to alleviate these anxieties in the coming months. International attention to events in Russia will be intense in the coming months and years, as the Kremlin’s responses to electoral unfairness allegations will color Moscow’s relations with its fellow states.
Source: www.usatoday.com March 18, 2024
