Incumbent President of Russia Vladimir Putin secures victory in the presidential election with a remarkable 87.21% of the vote, as reported by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation after processing 90% of the protocols.
Nikolai Kharitonov, representing the CPRF, holds the second position with 4.28% of the vote, followed by Vladislav Davankov (New People) and Leonid Slutsky (LDPR) in third and fourth place respectively, garnering 3.94% and 3.16% of the votes.
The turnout for the presidential election, unprecedentedly held over three days - March 15, 16, and 17 - reached 74.22% as of 18:00 Moscow time on Sunday, according to preliminary data. This marks a significant increase compared to the final turnout in the 2018 election, which was a one-day event (67.54%), although slightly behind the highest turnout recorded in Russian history - June 12, 1991 (74.66%).
TASS has compiled the key results of the vote thus far.
Putin's resounding victory
Putin's resounding victory with 87.21% of the vote surpasses his 2018 election results, where he garnered 76.69% of the votes. This also sets a record for the entirety of the incumbent head of state's participation in presidential elections.
The performance of the other candidates notably falls short compared to previous competitors of the incumbent head of state: Pavel Grudinin (CPRF) received 11.77% of votes, and Vladimir Zhirinovsky (LDPR) secured 5.65% in the last election.
Moreover, all three parties fielding candidates in the 2024 elections are entitled to federal budget funding, as per the law, even if their candidates surpass the three-percent threshold. They will receive 152 rubles for each vote.
Results of online voting
The 2024 presidential election saw the inaugural use of remote electronic voting, available in one-third of Russian regions. In 28 regions, residents utilized the federal platform, while Moscow employed its platform.
The final turnout for online voting on the federal platform reached 94% (4.4 million people). In Moscow, nearly 3.7 million electronic ballots were issued, including voters who used special terminals at polling stations.
According to the results of remote electronic voting on the federal platform, Putin leads with 87.41% of votes, followed by Davankov with 6.28%. Slutsky garnered 3.75% of online votes, while Kharitonov received 2.56%.
In Moscow, Putin secured victory with 89.1% of the vote, Davankov came in second with 4.4%, and Kharitonov and Slutsky trailed with 3.3% and 3.2% respectively.
Donbass and Novorossiya
Putin also clinches victory in the regions of Donbass and Novorossiya by a substantial margin. In the Kherson region, after processing 100% of the protocols, he secured 88.12% of the votes, while in the Zaporozhye region, he garnered 92.83%. In the LNR, Putin received 94.12% of the votes, and in the DNR, an overwhelming 95.23%.
In the DNR and Kherson region, Kharitonov came in second with 1.62% and 4.88% of the vote respectively, while Slutsky trailed behind in the Zaporozhye region and Luhansk People's Republic with 2.52% and 2.13% of the vote.
Despite the Ukrainian threat, all regions displayed a turnout exceeding the Russian average, with Novorossiya exceeding 80%, and the Donbass republics nearing 90%. This figure includes early voting, which occurred in all four regions (in Zaporozhye Oblast, polling stations were only open on March 17, while residents voted at home on March 15 and 16).
Putin's statements
Approaching midnight, Putin made his way to his election headquarters, expressing gratitude to his team and underscoring Russia's imperative to further strengthen itself, emphasizing the need for increased power and efficiency. He extended appreciation to all Russian voters and highlighted the contributions of those involved in the special military operation.
Addressing inquiries from journalists, the president outlined tasks for his new term, including resolving issues within the special military operation framework and fortifying the nation's defense capabilities. He commended the effectiveness of the government, the presidential administration, and the Bank of Russia, characterizing the actions of the Russian military as proactive defense. Additionally, he commented on various current affairs, including French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to instate a cease-fire in Ukraine for the duration of the Paris Olympics.
Kharitonov stated that CPRF observers did not record any significant election violations. Party leader Gennady Zyuganov announced that the communist candidate would meet with Putin on Monday, March 18. The head of state later confirmed his intention to meet with all candidates for the top position.
Slutsky also asserted the absence of noteworthy irregularities, referring to the incidents reported by the LDPR as "minor rough edges."
Davankov characterized Putin's election victory as indisputable, expressing satisfaction with his second-place finish in the remote electronic voting.
Reaction abroad
Venezuela was the first to congratulate Putin on his election victory. The Venezuelan foreign ministry released a statement indicating that President Nicolas Maduro extended congratulations to the Russian leader "on the triumph of the election."
Conversely, criticism emerged from Western nations. The White House refrained from recognizing the elections as "free or fair," while British Foreign Minister David Cameron asserted that they took place under conditions of "limited choice." The Polish foreign ministry criticized the voting process in Donbas and Novorossiya.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS