(Moscow) “Record”, “exceptional”: Moscow welcomed Monday Vladimir Putin’s overwhelming victory in the Russian presidential election, a result presented as proof of national unity behind his assault on Ukraine but forged in the repression of the opposition.
Abroad, Moscow’s partners unanimously welcomed his re-election, which the West denounced, for their part, as a sham of democracy.
The Russian president, in power for almost a quarter of a century, received 87.28% of the votes counted in Russia, or 10 points more than in 2018.
“This is a record indicator,” proclaimed the head of the Electoral Commission, Ella Pamfilova. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov applauded an “exceptional” result and a “confirmation” of the support of the Russian people “for their president”.
In the same vein, Chinese leader Xi Jinping assured that this result proved “the full support of the Russians” for Mr. Putin, while Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi saw it as a “solid victory”. The leaders of Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Bolivia also welcomed Mr. Putin’s re-election.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his congratulations and called for strengthening the “special” relationship between the two countries.
Also read: Putin re-elected as expected
Berlin, London, Paris and the head of European diplomacy, for their part, castigated a vote under duress, without opposition and in full repression.
Concert on Red Square
The Russian president celebrated his victory on Sunday evening by painting a portrait of a “consolidated” Russia which will not allow itself to be “intimidated” by the West.
A concert is to take place in the evening on Red Square to celebrate Mr. Putin remaining in the Kremlin and on the 10e anniversary of the annexation of Ukrainian Crimea in 2014, the starting point of Moscow’s military aggression against Kyiv which culminated with the assault of February 24, 2022.
Groups of supporters of the Russian president were already present in the neighborhood at midday, some wearing windbreakers crossed out with the words: “Our loyalty to the homeland gives us strength. »
Regarding the front, however, the whole week was marked by deadly bombings and incursions by armed fighters from Ukraine to show Russia that it is not safe on its territory.
In the Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, these attacks have left at least 13 dead since March 12, according to local authorities.
Score irréel
Vladimir Poutine a salué dimanche les soldats combattant en Ukraine, qui protègent « les territoires historiques de la Russie », confirmant encore ses ambitions impérialistes, lui qui a déjà revendiqué l’annexion de cinq régions ukrainiennes.
Il a estimé que les forces russes, à l’offensive face à une armée ukrainienne en manque d’hommes et de munitions, avaient « entièrement l’initiative ».
Ces avancées restent encore limitées, mais le dirigeant russe parie sur la poursuite de l’affaiblissement du soutien occidental à Kyiv.
En Russie, plus personne ne peut en outre le contredire : les trois autres candidats à la présidentielle étaient tous sur la même ligne que lui, qu’il s’agisse de l’Ukraine ou de la répression qui a culminé avec la mort de l’opposant Alexeï Navalny dans une prison de l’Arctique en février.
L’opposition a réussi néanmoins à se montrer lors de cette présidentielle.
Ioulia Navalnaïa, qui a juré de reprendre le flambeau de son mari Alexeï Navalny, avait appelé ses partisans à aller tous voter au même moment, à midi dimanche.
Elle-même a voté à l’ambassade de Russie à Berlin, disant avoir écrit « Navalny » sur son bulletin.
L’équipe du défunt, qui accuse le Kremlin d’avoir tué l’opposant, a jugé que le score obtenu par M. Poutine n’avait « pas de lien avec la réalité ».
Dimanche soir, le président russe a, pour la première fois, prononcé publiquement le nom de son ancien opposant numéro un, assurant soudainement qu’il avait été favorable à sa libération dans le cadre d’un échange de prisonniers avec les Occidentaux.
Perdre ses « racines » russes
Le porte-parole de la présidence russe, Dmitri Peskov, a lui dénigré lundi Mme Navalnaïa, minorant son lien avec la Russie, alors qu’elle a été contrainte à l’exil.
Ioulia Navalnaïa fait « partie de ces gens qui perdent leurs racines, perdent leur lien avec la patrie, perdent leur compréhension de leur patrie, ne sentent plus le pouls de leur pays », a-t-il estimé.
Comme elle, des centaines de milliers de Russes ont fui le pays à cause de la répression ou de peur d’être mobilisés dans l’armée.
À travers le monde, des milliers d’entre eux ont répondu dimanche midi à l’appel à voter en masse ensemble contre M. Poutine.
Réélection saluée par ses alliés, dénoncée par les Occidentaux
De la Chine à Cuba en passant par des pays africains, les alliés du président russe Vladimir Poutine ont été prompts à saluer sa réélection avec 87 % des voix tandis que les Occidentaux ont dénoncé un simulacre de démocratie.
Chine
« Votre réélection prouve le plein soutien des Russes », a estimé lundi le président chinois Xi Jinping dans un message de félicitations à son homologue, rapporté par la télévision d’État chinoise CCTV. Le ministère chinois des Affaires étrangères s’est dit convaincu que les relations « continueront à progresser » entre les deux « partenaires de coopération stratégique globale ».
Inde
Le premier ministre indien Narendra Modi a félicité lundi Vladimir Poutine et appelé, sur le réseau X, « à renforcer encore davantage le durable partenariat spécial et privilégié entre l’Inde et la Russie dans les années à venir ».
Corée du Nord
Le dirigeant nord-coréen Kim Jong-un, proche allié de M. Poutine, a estimé que la réélection du maître du Kremlin montrait « le soutien intangible du peuple russe » à leur président. « Le peuple russe a démontré […] his desire to further strengthen social and political unity around you,” Mr. Kim said in a message to Mr. Putin relayed by the Tass agency.
Iran
Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi “sincerely congratulated Vladimir Putin on his solid victory”, according to the official Irna agency.
Syria
President Bashar al-Assad congratulated his Russian counterpart on his re-election “with a large majority, which confirms the great confidence of the Russian people”, welcoming “the distinguished relations and bilateral cooperation between Syria and Russia”.
Chad
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno sent his “warm congratulations” to Mr. Putin. “While wishing him every success, I renew our commitment to continuing and strengthening the work begun to strengthen Chadian-Russian cooperation,” he wrote on Facebook.
Niger
The head of the military regime in power in Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani, sent his “strong and warm congratulations as well as (his) wishes for success” to Vladimir Putin, assuring him of his “personal availability as well as that of the government of Niger” in order to strengthen “already excellent relations” with his country.
United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain
The President of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed “sent a message of congratulations” to the Russian president, as did the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who wished him “success”, hoping that relations between the Russia and its country “continue to develop and prosper.”
The Prime Minister of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa did the same, wishing Vladimir Putin to “lead Russia and its people towards greater progress, development and prosperity”.
Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, Bolivia
As of Sunday evening, the leaders of Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Bolivia congratulated Mr. Putin. “Our older brother has triumphed, which bodes well for the world,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Bosnian Serbs
The president of Republika Srpska (the Bosnian Serb entity) Milorad Dodik welcomed the victory over X of “a friend on whom we can count”.
Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social networks on Sunday evening that the Russian presidential election had “no legitimacy”, adding that Mr. Putin is “drunk with power and is doing everything he can to reign eternally”.
Moldova
“We cannot speak of free and fair elections when the real opponents are excluded from the race, when some are imprisoned, others expelled from the country, when the reprisals are so strong that people are afraid to express themselves, when there nothing remains of the free press,” said the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu. “This is not democracy and this is not what we want to build here.”
European Union
The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell said on Monday that Mr Putin’s re-election was based on “repression and intimidation” and “(had) not been a free and fair vote”. At the same time, the EU declares that it will not recognize the result of the “illegal” elections held in the Ukrainian territories under Russian control.
France
Paris regretted on Monday that “the conditions for a free, pluralist and democratic election” had “once again” not been met in Russia. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised “the courage of the many Russian citizens who peacefully demonstrated their opposition to this attack on their fundamental political rights”.
Germany
Germany denounced “an election without choice” showing “Putin’s infamous action against his own people”. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock added, “holding so-called elections in parts of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova is against international law.”
Poland
Poland ruled on Sunday that “the presidential election in Russia is not legal, free and fair”. The vote took place “in a context of severe repression” and in the occupied regions of Ukraine, in violation of international law, according to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Czech Republic
“A farce and a parody,” judged Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on Sunday on X, hoping that “one day the Russians will vote in a free and democratic election.”
Italy
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Sunday on X that “the elections in Russia were neither free nor fair and also concerned illegally occupied Ukrainian territories.” Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini made a dissonant voice heard by assuring that “the Russians have voted” and that “when a people votes, they are always right”.
United Kingdom
The re-election of Mr. Putin shows “the extent of repression” in Russia, the head of British diplomacy David Cameron said in a statement on Monday. “Putin eliminates his political opponents, controls the media and declares himself the winner. This is not democracy.”
Norway
“The so-called election in Russia was neither conducted in a free nor fair manner,” said Espen Barth Eide, foreign minister of Norway, a country bordering Russia. He denounced the fact that part of the vote took place in an area of Ukraine “illegally occupied by Russia” and praised the Russians “who still dare to work for […] a better and different Russia.”
Canada
“Deeply concerned by the irregularities of the electoral process” in Russia, Canada “condemns the conduct of the vote in the occupied territories of Ukraine, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law,” affirmed its Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly.