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Kremlin claims ‘unambiguous triumph’ in referendum allowing Putin to rule until 2036

Putin votes on the referendum at a polling station in Moscow: AP
Putin votes on the referendum at a polling station in Moscow: AP

The Kremlin has claimed an “unambiguous triumph” in its constitutional vote that paves the way for Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday, spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed the “yes” vote amounted to a “triumphal referendum of trust” in the president.

“It was easy to predict the great interest given the way the constitutional amendments were formulated,” he said.

“But no one could predict the highest of turnouts and support.”

With all votes counted, authorities claimed a 77.92 per cent to 21.27 per cent victory on a turn out of 67.97 per cent.

The “yes” vote was even greater than the 76.7 per cent secured by the president at the last elections.

The results apparently exceeded the Kremlin’s own predictions, with reports suggesting internal targets aimed for a turnout above 55 per cent, and yes vote above 60 percent.

Only one of 85 subjects — the Nenets Autonomous Okrug‚ in Russia’s far north — registered a negative 44-55 result.

But the vote was marred with allegations of mass vote rigging and unfair process.

Opposition groups claimed their own exit polls showed the reverse result. According to the Nyet! movement, 54.9 per cent of voters voted against (official numbers: 34 per cent).

The difference was even starker in St Petersburg, Russia’s northern capital, with 63.07 per cent projected as no-voters versus the official figure of 21.63 per cent.)

A member of election commission checks the temperature of a voter (AP)
A member of election commission checks the temperature of a voter (AP)

According to the independent election observer Sergei Shpilkin, mathematical models of voting patterns indicated that as many as 22 million of the 74 million ballot papers cast were suspicious.

The vote, not a referendum in any legal sense, was conducted in a grey area that seemed geared to allow for ambiguity. Polling was conducted over an unprecedented seven days, with home voting allowed without any valid reason.

Independent party observers were not allowed, as nor, strictly speaking was campaigning for or against. Authorities mostly ignored the latter by encouraging Russians to vote “for” their “future.”

It was also difficult to know what this election was truly about.

Official election literature and state media concentrated on the other 205 proposed amendments — promising everything from increased pensions to traditional family values and good governance.

The one key clause proposing a reset in Mr Putin’s term limits was routinely ignored.

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