Putin is Russia’s longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking another term in office, and there’s little doubt among both Russians and international observers that he will solidify his grip on power for at least another six years.
Putin holds the distinction of being Russia’s longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. He was initially appointed prime minister 25 years ago in 1999 by then-President Boris Yeltsin. Following Yeltsin’s resignation due to ill health in 2000, Putin assumed the presidency. He later served as prime minister from 2008 to 2012 under President Dmitri Medvedev before returning to the presidency amidst widespread protests and dissatisfaction.
“Vladimir Putin is gearing up for reelection, but it’s expected to be neither free nor fair. The outcome of this election appears predetermined,” said Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, in a statement to US Newzs Digital.
U.S. intelligence has already warned of Russia’s intentions to interfere in the upcoming November presidential election, with information warfare remaining Putin’s most potent tool to sow discord and undermines the United States. Stradner, whose research focuses on Russian information security, suggests that it’s time for the U.S. to take action and interfere in Russian domestic elections to influence the result.
“It’s time to turn the tables on Putin’s tactics and make him experience his methods,” Stradner stated. She suggests that the U.S. should seize the opportunity to destabilize Putin’s regime, especially since the Russian government has accused the U.S. of meddling in their elections. Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, claimed that the U.S. is employing sophisticated methods to influence Russia’s presidential election.
However, the U.S. State Department outrightly dismissed these claims.
“The United States does not interfere in foreign elections; our sole concern is with upholding the democratic process. The Russian people deserve elections that are free and fair, with the opportunity to select from a range of candidates,” a spokesperson from the State Department conveyed to Fox News Digital. “Russians, like all individuals, deserve access to unbiased information to aid them in choosing the leadership and future trajectory of their nation,” the spokesperson added.
Since assuming power, Russia’s presidential elections have been little more than a bureaucratic formality, or at most a superficial display, aimed at giving the impression that Putin is securing a democratic endorsement from the populace to prolong his reign, according to Stradner.
While the election is widely acknowledged as lacking freedom and fairness due to the absence of genuine political opposition to Putin and the near-certainty of the outcome, it’s important to note that Putin still enjoys widespread support.
“It’s crucial to understand what ‘pre-determined’ truly implies when discussing the upcoming Russian elections,” explained Rebekah Koffler, a strategic military intelligence analyst and former Defense Intelligence Agency official, to Fox News Digital.
“Putin is almost certain to secure another six-year term as Russia’s president in the upcoming election. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the election will be manipulated in a way that alters voter results,” Koffler clarified.
Putin’s popularity stems from the perception that he has revitalized national pride by overseeing economic growth after the tumultuous 1990s and re-establishing Russia as a major global power.
In a nationwide referendum held in 2016, Russians voted in favor of allowing Putin to extend his tenure in power until at least 2026. A recent public opinion poll conducted by Russian state news indicated that 75% of Russians were willing to vote for Putin’s reelection, with analysts forecasting that Putin will secure around 80% support. Moreover, no viable opposition candidate is posing a legitimate challenge to Putin’s authority.
Putin’s most recent and formidable political adversary, Alexei Navalny, was recently found dead in a Siberian prison in what many believe to be a political assassination orchestrated by Putin. Even before his sudden demise in February, Navalny had accused the Russian government of launching fabricated investigations and imprisoning him to tarnish his political career. Navalny also alleged that Kremlin agents had poisoned him in an incident where he narrowly survived.
Additionally, there is no independent media environment to present alternative viewpoints to Putin’s leadership. Russian media predominantly promotes nationalistic narratives emphasizing Russia’s perceived resurgence, particularly amidst its military intervention in Ukraine.
Putin aims to emphasize his domestic policy successes to portray progress within the country, all while assuring the Russian public that the conflict in Ukraine is proceeding as intended and is not a cause for concern among voters.
In 2022, Russian forces encountered initial setbacks as they were unable to capture the capital, Kyiv, and overthrow the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Despite facing strong resistance from both the Ukrainian armed forces and civilians, there were speculations that Putin was losing support due to the lack of progress in the war.
However, despite a brief uprising in July led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russia’s mercenary Wager Group, Russian forces managed to halt Ukrainian counteroffensives in eastern Ukraine and even made modest advancements in certain areas.
The unprecedented Western sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and its coalition allies haven’t had the drastic impact on the economy that many policymakers had anticipated. Russia’s economy demonstrated resilience, experiencing a growth of 3.6% in 2023 after contracting during the initial year of the war.
Despite Russia’s unexpected resilience, the conflict has come at a significant economic cost, with the war estimated to have deprived Russia of $1.3 trillion in economic growth through 2026, according to a U.S. defense official. Additionally, the Russian population continues to endure numerous wartime hardships. While the daily trauma and devastation haven’t reached the same level within Russia as they have in Ukraine, families are still suffering the loss of loved ones.
Koffler predicts that following the election, “Putin will persist in waging war on Ukraine until Zelenskyy surrenders or a peace agreement is negotiated on Russia’s terms. Putin perceives Russia to be in a dominant position, possessing significant military and economic superiority over Ukraine. Russia will maintain its collaboration with China, Iran, and other traditional adversaries of the United States.”
She also cautioned that “Russian intelligence will likely conduct covert influence operations targeting U.S. elections to foster discord and divide various American voter demographics. Russian intelligence may also engage in destabilization efforts in Moldova and potentially incite unrest in Kosovo following Russia’s election,”, especially in the lead-up to our presidential election here.
The Russian election commences on March 15, with voters having the opportunity to cast their ballots until March 17. Early voting has already occurred in areas of Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, which Russia claims to have annexed in September 2022. Results are anticipated shortly after the polls close on Sunday.