Russia elections – live: Putin declares sham victory as thousands join Navalny widow for protests

Yulia Navalnaya, who had endorsed her late husband’s name to flock to the polling stations for the “Midday In opposition to Putin” marketing campaign, waited in line for six hours outdoors the Russian embassy in Berlin earlier than casting her vote.

She informed crowds after she left the constructing that she had written her husband’s title on the poll, having waited in a line greater than a kilometre lengthy and which snaked by means of a number of streets.

Vladimir Putin has mentioned Alexei Navalny’s title for the primary time in additional than a decade as he declared his victory within the rigged presidential elections.

“As considerations Mr Navalny. Sure, he handed away. That is all the time a tragic occasion, however there have been different occasions when folks in jail died. Hasn’t that occurred within the US? After all it has,” Putin mentioned.

It’s broadly suspected that Russian authorities killed Mr Navalny final month within the Arctic Circle penal colony the place was being held on trumped up costs of extremism.

Putin added that his officers had handed on a proposal to launch Mr Navalny in a swap, with out offering proof, days earlier than he died.

“It occurs,” he mentioned. “What are you able to do? That’s life.”

The British overseas and defence ministers have condemned Russia’s presidential elections as exit polls counsel Vladimir Putin has gained a landslide victory.

“The polls have closed in Russia, following the unlawful holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, an absence of alternative for voters and no impartial OSCE monitoring,” mentioned overseas secretary Lord David Cameron. “This isn’t what free and truthful elections appear like.”

Defence minister Grant Shapps mentioned: “Putin has stolen one other election, however he is not going to steal Ukraine.

“The UK will work with our allies to cease this thief by rising our collective assist for Ukraine. As historical past exhibits, we now have to cease dictators & autocrats, or they go on to steal much more.”

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of opposition determine Alexei Navanly, has thanked the 1000’s who got here out to assist the ‘Midday In opposition to Putin’ marketing campaign at the moment on the final day of the rigged Russian elections.

“Thanks very a lot, great, finest individuals who stood with me at the moment from 12 midday for a complete 6 hours aspect by aspect in line on the polling station,” she sai.

“Thanks for coming – crying, laughing. Thanks for endlessly shouting ‘Yulia, we’re with you’ and ‘Navalny’ and telling me that I gave you again hope. In actual fact, after all, it’s the opposite method round, it’s not me, however you who give me hope that every part will not be in useless, that we are going to nonetheless battle.

“Thanks to all of you who got here out in each metropolis world wide. You might be my assist and assist. I like you all very a lot.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described Vladimir Putin as “sick with energy” because the Kremlin claims the Russian chief has simply gained a landslide victory within the presidential elections.

The German Overseas Workplace has condemned the presidential elections in Russia, that are attributable to conclude shortly and can virtually definitely lead to Vladimir Putin resuming workplace for a fifth time period, as “neither free nor truthful”.

In a press release on X, the ministry wrote: “The pseudo-election in #Russia is neither free nor truthful, 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 & one other breach of worldwide regulation.”

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has congratulated Vladimir Putin as exit polls counsel that the autocrat has gained greater than 87 per cent of the presidential vote.

“Congratulstions to all Russia’s enemies on Vladimir Putin’s good victory within the election of the President of the Russian Federation!” Medvedev wrote on X. “And a thanks to mates for the assist.”

The primary outcomes for the Russian presidential election, broadly suspected to be rigged, have been revealed for the occupied territories of Ukraine.

Footage has proven armed troopers escorting Ukrainian civilians to the polling stations within the 4 areas Vladimir Putin illegally annexed in Ukraine in September 2022. Kyiv says they’re being intimidated into voting for the person that ordered the invasion of their houses.

Authorities have claimed that Putin gained 95.23 per cent in Donetsk area, 94.12 per cent in Luhansk, 92.95 per cent in Zaporizhzhia and 88.12 per cent in Kherson. They are saying all of the votes have been counted.

These are usually not a real reflection of assist for Putin within the occupied territories, moderately they’re an indication of how Russia is making an attempt to challenge recognition.

The primary exit polls have recommended that Vladimir Putin has gained roughly 87.8 per cent of the presidential vote.

These projections had been revealed by the Public Opinion Basis (FOM).