CNN
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Protests erupted at polling stations in Russia on Sunday, the final day of voting in an election aimed at extending President Vladmir Putin's long-term rule.
Lines at some polling stations in Russia suddenly increased around 12pm local time on Sunday. At this time, supporters of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny called on the people to vote en masse as a show of support for the opposition.
According to a CNN reporter at a polling station in Moscow, the line quickly grew in five to 10 minutes around noon, with an estimated 150 people arriving.
The CNN team said police were letting people through the gate in several batches to get past security guards, and there were metal detectors and bag searches inside the building.
“I came at noon to meet other people, and they came too,” said one 39-year-old voter.
One woman told CNN, “This is the first time in my life I've seen a voting procession.'' When she asked why she came at that time, she simply replied: I think everyone standing in this line knows why. ”
AP
Voters line up at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, at noon local time on Sunday.
It's unclear how many polling places across the country saw more people waiting around noon. Reuters and AFP also reported that protests were taking place.
Social media channels set up by Navalny's supporters published video clips of processions in several Moscow areas, including Nekrasovka, Tverskaya Street and locations in St. Petersburg. The Navalny team also posted an image from the city of Novosibirsk with the following caption: Protests are already taking place in Siberia's first cities. I look forward to meeting you all. ”
On Sunday, even more supporters of the Kremlin critic gathered around his grave to pay their respects. Video shows dozens of people gathered around the grave at Moscow's Borisovsky Cemetery, some placing flowers, others standing silently or taking photos.
Russians abroad also heeded calls by Mr. Navalny's supporters to protest at voting stations, forming long lines outside Russian embassies in Berlin and London.
Meanwhile, Mr Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya was photographed on Sunday greeting supporters who rallied against Putin in Berlin.
Earlier this month, Yulia called for an “all-Russian protest,” adding: “Alexei called for participation in this midday action against President Putin. That's why this is so important to me.”
She told her supporters to show up at the polls simultaneously to register their protest and then vote against Putin, write a letter to Navalny, invalidate their ballots, or simply protest in silence. He urged people to choose for themselves whether to do so and leave.
Navalnaya said on YouTube that the protests “will take place not only in every city, but in every district of every city, with millions of Russians taking part and witnessed by tens of millions more.” Deaf,” he said.
Navalny, Putin's most formidable opponent, died in an Arctic prison on February 16 at the age of 47, sparking condemnation from world leaders and accusations by aides that he had been murdered. The Kremlin denied any involvement in his death.
Russia has filed at least 15 criminal cases after the presidential election vote saw some acts of civil disobedience, with people pouring dye into ballot boxes, setting fires and throwing Molotov cocktails. There is.
More than 60 Russian nationals were detained in 16 Russian cities on Sunday, according to independent human rights organization OVD-Info.
Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, opposition has been effectively outlawed.
Sunday marks the third and final day of voting, with Russian President Vladimir Putin all but certain to win a fifth term.
Voting took place across 11 time zones across the country, from the Far East near Alaska to western Kaliningrad on the Baltic coast, and 88 federal subjects, including parts of occupied Ukraine illegally annexed by Russia. There is.
Polling stations in all but the westernmost regions of Russia will be closed, with the first election results expected after 9pm Moscow time (2pm Eastern time) on Sunday.
According to the Election Commission, turnout in the election was over 70% of eligible voters, and official statistics show that the proportion of people who voted in the final hours exceeded the final turnout in 2018.
If President Putin is re-elected, his rule will be extended until at least 2030. Following constitutional changes in 2020, Putin could run again and remain in power until 2036, making him Russia's longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Joseph. It turns out. Stalin.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
