March 15th 2024.
For nearly a quarter of a century, Vladimir Putin has held the reins of power in Russia. As the country's presidential election kicks off, all eyes are on Putin, who is expected to solidify his grip on power until at least 2030. Polling stations have opened, even in the annexed regions of Ukraine, but it's clear that Putin will win a fifth term without much competition.
The Central Election Commission, controlled by the state, has disqualified two candidates on technicalities, while other opponents are either imprisoned or exiled. Recent events, such as the alleged poisoning and subsequent death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, serve as a reminder of how far Putin is willing to go to silence dissent. According to Dan Storyev, managing editor at OVD-Info, a human rights organization focusing on Russia, nowhere is safe for those who oppose the Kremlin's rule.
Storyev warns that after Putin's "coronation" in the elections, repression will only intensify abroad. He predicts that we will see more cases of "transnational repression," where the diaspora community is targeted outside of Russia. This has already been seen in high-profile cases, such as the Salisbury poisonings and the assassination of a Chechen fighter in Berlin. But it's not just these well-known incidents that we should be concerned about; Storyev believes that activists seeking refuge in places like London and Berlin may also be at risk.
One such case is that of Maksim Kuzminov, a Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine in 2023 and was later assassinated in Spain. Spanish intelligence services accused the Kremlin of orchestrating his murder, which sparked an international scandal. Russian emigres in Spain have since appealed for more protection against the Kremlin.
Under Putin's authoritarian political system, power is concentrated in his hands. With the help of oligarchs and loyalists in the Kremlin, he controls the legal system, media, and even the outcome of presidential elections. In its most recent report, Freedom House gave Russia a score of 13 out of 100, a three-point regression from the previous year. This score reflects the country's lack of free and fair elections, limited political opposition, rampant corruption, lack of government transparency, and absence of free and independent media.
The report also highlights the increasing use of assassination as a tool by Putin's regime, targeting former insiders who are seen as threats to his power. This has even extended to targeting individuals outside of Russia, as seen in the cases of activists and deserters who have been detained and jailed in countries like Ukraine, Bulgaria, Germany, and the UK at the request of the Russian government.
As Putin celebrates his "coronation," it's important to remember that this is not a true election, but rather a show put on by the Kremlin every few years. There is no genuine support for Putin among the people; instead, there is a forced apathy brought on by manipulation and coercion. It's crucial to push back against the dehumanization of Russians and recognize that they are not a homogenous mass blindly following Putin. The portrayal of Russians as such only serves to isolate and disempower those who are fighting against the regime.
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