Russia’s allies have been swift to congratulate President Vladimir Putin for his weekend election win, however Western leaders have denounced the “unlawful” vote.
Outcomes posted on Sunday confirmed that Putin gained a document post-Soviet landslide in Russia’s presidential election, garnering 87.8 % of the vote.
The result means Putin, 71, will embark now on his fifth presidential time period, with a stint as prime minister in between. Ought to he full his subsequent six-year time period, he’ll overtake Joseph Stalin to turn out to be Russia’s longest serving chief for greater than 200 years.
Dmitry Medvedev, who stood in as president in 2008-12, and is now deputy chairman of the Safety Council, responded lengthy earlier than the ultimate outcomes had been as a result of be introduced, saying on Telegram: “I congratulate Vladimir Putin on his splendid victory within the election.”
He was crushed solely by the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, who cheered Putin’s massive win simply earlier than the voting cubicles opened.
“Wish to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory within the elections beginning at present,” he wrote on X. “No opposition. No freedom. No selection.”
Wish to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory within the elections beginning at present.
No opposition.
No freedom.
No selection.— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) March 15, 2024
Right here’s a round-up of the principle reactions worldwide from those that waited for the outcome to be introduced:
China
Beijing congratulated Putin, saying “China and Russia are one another’s largest neighbours and complete strategic cooperative companions within the new period”.
Overseas ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated President Xi Jinping and Putin “will proceed to take care of shut exchanges, lead the 2 nations to proceed to uphold longstanding good-neighbourly friendship, deepen complete strategic coordination”.
Iran
President Ebrahim Raisi congratulated his Russian counterpart on his “decisive” win, state media reported.
“The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a message sincerely congratulated Vladimir Putin on his decisive victory and re-election because the President of the Russian Federation,” state information company IRNA reported.
Venezuela
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stated: “Our older brother has triumphed, which bodes properly for the world.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Professional-Russian President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik stated: “The Serb folks welcomed with pleasure the victory of President Putin for they see in him a fantastic statesman and a buddy on whom we will all the time rely and who will watch over our folks”.
United States
“The elections are clearly not free nor honest given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from operating towards him,” stated a White Home Safety Council spokesman.
European Union
EU Overseas Coverage Chief Josep Borrell insisted that the election had not been “free and honest” with neither real opposition crushed nor worldwide observers current.
“This election has been primarily based on repression and intimidation,” Borrell stated.
Ukraine
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the outcome as illegitimate. “Everybody on this planet understands that this individual, like many others all through historical past, has turn out to be sick with energy and can cease at nothing to rule endlessly,” he stated.
“There isn’t any evil he wouldn’t do to take care of his private energy. And nobody on this planet would have been safeguarded from this.”
Germany
“The pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor honest, the outcome will shock no person. Putin’s rule is authoritarian, he depends on censorship, repression & violence. The “election” within the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void and one other breach of worldwide legislation,” the German international ministry stated in a social media submit.
United Kingdom
Overseas secretary David Cameron stated the “unlawful” elections featured “a scarcity of selection for voters and no unbiased OSCE monitoring,” including: “This isn’t what free and honest elections appear to be.”
Italy
Italy’s international minister Antonio Tajani stated the “elections had been neither free nor honest”.
“We’re persevering with to work for a simply peace that can carry Russia to place an finish to the conflict of aggression towards Ukraine, in accordance with worldwide legislation.”
Czech Republic
Czech international minister Jan Lipavsky known as the election a “farce and parody”. He stated: “This was the Russian presidential election that confirmed how this regime suppresses civil society, unbiased media, opposition.”
India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated he seemed ahead to boosting ties with Moscow to develop their “particular” relationship.
“Sit up for working collectively to additional strengthen the time-tested Particular and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia within the years to come back,” Modi wrote on X.