With the intense anticipation for the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram witnessed a significant turnout on Thursday for the Russian Presidential elections. Around 60 Russian citizens lined up at the Russian House polling center to exercise their voting rights. Though the official dates for the elections in Russia are from March 15 to March 17, Russian nationals overseas had the facility to cast their votes in advance on Thursday. In addition to Thiruvananthapuram, polling booths were made available in the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, Consulates in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and localities like Goa and Koodankulam.
Voters participating in Thiruvananthapuram included Russian residents and tourists in Kerala. Their votes, cast on paper ballots as opposed to India’s electronic system, are to be sent to Moscow’s Election Commission office through the Russian Consulate General in Chennai. The four contenders in these elections include the current President Vladimir Putin, Vladislav Davankov of the New People caucus, LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky, and the Communist Party’s Nikolai Kharitonov.
Despite earlier polls in Thiruvananthapuram for Russian elections, international scrutiny intensified over the fairness of the current elections. The EU and NATO expressed skepticism regarding the legitimacy of the elections, pointing to a lack of opposition. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny, appealed to the West to disregard the election results, which were criticized for not presenting a real democratic choice for the Russian people. NATO and EU officials particularly condemned the illegitimate attempts to hold elections in occupied regions of Ukraine, violating international law. With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine further straining relationships, the outcome of the elections could solidify Putin’s extended tenure, potentially until 2030, in an environment devoid of substantial opposition.