The day after the Russian presidential election

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Europe

With nearly all votes counted, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sealed his victory in the nation’s elections. Three out of every four ballots cast were in the incumbent’s favor. Putin received five million more votes than he got in elections in 2004. The Central Election Commission said two-thirds of those eligible to vote were able to cast ballots.

On the election night, after the first results started pouring in, smiles and cheers were abundant on the faces of the young volunteers at the Putin election campaign headquarters.

At the voting station in Bakhrushina Street, Moscow. /CGTN Photo

But the atmosphere wasn’t ecstatic at all, most likely because everybody – not just his supporters – expected Putin to win. And when the Russian President arrived, he didn’t fuel the euphoric fire. Instead he warned of tough times ahead, and emphasized the need for unity regardless of political affiliation. In the next six years he expects a lot of support from his election team.

“I would like for our team to be preserved for the next few years, so we could effectively work for the benefit and in the name of Russia. Thank you very much,” Vladimir Putin said.

Voice of the street

Earlier that day, CGTN spoke to a number of voters after they cast their ballots at a polling station in central Moscow.

CGTN first met Lyudmila from Moscow, who said that she supports Putin: “I voted for our president Vladimir Putin and for our future. I expect some changes for the better. Vladimir Vladimirovich seems to be optimistic, we trust him so we will just work on it.”

Then CGTN spoke to Filip, also from Moscow.

Filip, a voter from Moscow. /CGTN Photo

“I voted for Putin.” Filip said. “What we expect is more stability and better life. Talking about stability I mean mostly international relations. We also expect that our government would pay more attention to inner economic problems instead of concentrating on the global situation.”

But not everybody was happy with not only the elections results, but also the campaign itself.

Voice of the opposition

Pavel Grudinin, the candidate of the Communist Party of Russia, was first to rise his voice in dissatisfaction. He claimed the elections were not fair and labeled them as the “dirtiest ones” in the post-Soviet era.

Pro Western opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who was banned from participating in the elections, and called for its boycott, said the only way to fight authorities is through mass protests. He vowed that he’ll continue that in days ahead.

The voting station in Bakhrushina Street, Moscow. /CGTN Photo

But, the overwhelming majority of Russian voters opted for six more years of President Putin. Their choice was taken in the face of worsening tensions with the West and a fall in living standards, but many of them feel that keeping Putin in power means stability.

That’s something that people here who went through the chaos and the turbulences of the 1990s cherish the most.