Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today

Do Muscovites Believe Russia's Election Results?

Updated:

Russian President Vladimir Putin secured a fifth term in power after he took home more than 87% of the votes in the 2024 presidential race, election officials said earlier this week. 

But Putin's victory was never in doubt, with his major opponents in exile, imprisoned or dead, all the while the Kremlin has waged an unrelenting crackdown on public dissent since invading Ukraine in February 2022.

At the same time, the three-day voting period was marred by widespread reports of fraud, pressure on voters and restrictions on independent election monitors. 

So, do Russians believe Putin really won? We asked people on the streets of Moscow what they think.

Read more about: Putin , Elections

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

More videos

Crocus City Hall

Who Do Russians Blame for the Moscow Concert Attack?

At least 133 people were killed and 152 others were wounded when camouflaged gunmen stormed a concert hall in a Moscow suburb and set fire to the building...
1 Min read
tmt lecture series

Queerness as Extremism: The Assault on LGBTQ+ Rights in Russia

Anthropologist Olga Doletskaya contextualizes the anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown and explains what the extremist designation means for Russia's LGBTQ+ community...
1 Min read
tmt lecture series

Presidential Elections in Russia: Past, Present, Putin

Elections in Russia have since become a farce, a kind of political theatre or circus that has little to do with democracy. How did this come about?
1 Min read
memorial service

Navalny Mourners Share Their Thoughts on Late Activist

We asked those at Navalny's funeral to share their thoughts about him and the government's response to the funeral.
1 Min read