Russian president uses victory speech to say war in Ukraine and strengthening military will be his main tasksVladimir Putin has claimed a landslide victory in Russia’s presidential vote, as thousands in the country and around the world protested against his deepening dictatorship, the war in Ukraine and a stage-managed election that could have only one winner.In a vote denounced by the United States as “obviously not free nor fair”, Putin won 87% of the vote, according to exit polling published...
The West has criticised the polling process, saying that it was neither free nor fair.
Voters in Russia had virtually no choice, public criticism of Putin and his war in Ukraine has been stifled, and independent media have been crippled.
ONE HORSE RACE (Top headline, 2nd story, link) Related stories:RUSSIA VOTERS UNDER PUTIN'S WATCHFUL EYEOnline System Crashes
By Matthew Walsh Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Vladimir Putin on Monday, telling his Russian counterpart his re-election “fully reflects the support of the Russian people”, Beijing’s state media reported. With 99 percent of polling stations having submitted results, Putin had secured 87.33 percent of all votes cast, official election data […]
Vladimir Putin declared a national day of mourning on Sunday for the victims of a terrorist attack on a concert hall outside Moscow where more than 130 people died -- an attack that U.S. officials tried to warn the Russian president about.
An independent watchdog said 65 have been arrested across Russia today. More than a dozen were arrested in Moscow alone. Voting in the election ends tonight, and Vladimir Putin is expected to win
Adrian McRae, who was elected to the Port Hedland Council in regional WA in March, was captured on Russian television congratulating Vladimir Putin on his election victory.
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Western intelligentsia has been busy portraying Vladimir Putin as a man who, unlike, say Lyin’ Joe Biden or Rachel Levine or your local drag queen, has transgressed all the bounds of decency. He’s an authoritarian. He’s an imperialist. He’s an autocrat. He’s a new Hitler.
It is Opening Day. The Orioles have announced to the league that they're getting the follow-up act to last year's 101 wins with an authoritative demolition of the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim, etc.) Corbin Burnes struck out eleven batters in his Orioles debut, and had a stretch where he retired 16 straight batters. Hell yeah. The offense didn't miss the party either, dropping 11 runs on the Angels, including home runs by Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins. It was awesome, and YOU KNOW WHAT...
Shortly after Xi Jinping was reelected as China’s head of state in 2022 — by a vote of 2,950 to zero — the Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang criticized U.S. President Joe Biden for contextualizing the event as part of a battle between Western democracies and non-Western autocracies. Gang proclaimed that China, alongside Vladimir Putin’s Russia, was “committed to promoting a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations.” Neither politician can be taken at their word, though....