Russian Election Chaos: Calls for Protest as Polling Stations Hit by Attacks

As the Russian presidential election nears its end, chaos and unrest have plagued the polling process, with calls for protests against President Vladimir Putin‘s regime intensifying. The three-day election period has witnessed a series of disruptive incidents, including Ukrainian cross-border strikes, drone attacks, fires, and acts of sabotage targeting polling stations.

Opponents of Putin, including the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his widow Yulia Navalnaya, have urged citizens to flood polling stations on the final day of the election. They have called for ballots to be spoiled by marking them with Navalny’s name or voting for alternative candidates in a show of defiance against the ruling regime.

Despite stern warnings from authorities against any form of dissent, protesters have engaged in various acts of civil disobedience, such as pouring dye into ballot boxes and setting fire to polling stations. Navalnaya’s call for a mass protest at noon on Sunday aims to display a united front against Putin’s government and its military actions in Ukraine.

Putin, a former KGB agent who has dominated Russian politics since 1999, is seeking to extend his rule until at least 2030 through the current election, which lacks legitimate opposition candidates. The Kremlin has framed the election as a chance for Russians to demonstrate support for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where parallel voting is taking place in areas under Russian control.

The international community, including UN Secretary General António Guterres and over 50 member states, has condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and denounced the election in contested Ukrainian regions as illegitimate. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high, with reports of border incursions and military clashes intensifying in recent days.