World Courant
Russia’s allies had been fast to congratulate President Vladimir Putin on his election victory this weekend, however Western leaders have denounced the “unlawful” vote.
The outcomes printed on Sunday confirmed that Putin received a report second to the Soviet Union within the Russian presidential election, with 87.8 p.c of the vote.
The end result implies that Putin, 71, will now start his fifth presidential time period, with a stint as prime minister in between. Ought to he full his subsequent six-year time period, he’ll overtake Joseph Stalin and grow to be Russia’s longest-serving chief in additional than 200 years.
Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president in 2008-2012 and is now vice-chairman of the Safety Council, responded lengthy earlier than the ultimate outcomes had been as a result of be introduced, saying on Telegram: “I congratulate Vladimir Putin on his beautiful victory within the UN Safety Council . election.”
He was defeated solely by European Council President Charles Michel, who hailed Putin’s massive victory simply earlier than the polls opened.
“I want to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory within the elections beginning at the moment,” he wrote on X. “No opposition. No freedom. No selection.”
I want to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory within the elections that begin at the moment.
No opposition.
No freedom.
No selection.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) March 15, 2024
Here is a have a look at the highest reactions worldwide from these ready for the outcomes to be introduced:
China
Beijing congratulated Putin, saying: “China and Russia are one another’s largest neighbors and complete strategic cooperation companions within the new period.”
International Ministry spokesman Lin Jian mentioned President Xi Jinping and Putin will “proceed to take care of shut exchanges, push the 2 international locations to take care of the long-standing friendship between good neighbors and deepen complete strategic coordination.”
Iran
President Ebrahim Raisi congratulated his Russian counterpart on his “decisive” victory, state media reported.
“The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in a message, sincerely congratulated Vladimir Putin on his decisive victory and re-election as President of the Russian Federation,” state information company IRNA reported.
Venezuela
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro mentioned: “Our older brother has triumphed, which bodes nicely for the world.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Professional-Russian President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik mentioned: “The Serbian folks joyfully welcomed President Putin’s victory, as a result of they see in him an important statesman and a buddy on whom we are able to all the time depend and who will rule over our folks will watch.”
United States
“The election is clearly not free or honest, given the way in which Mr. Putin has jailed political opponents and prevented others from taking motion in opposition to him,” a White Home Safety Council spokesman mentioned.
European Union
Josep Borrell, the EU’s international coverage chief, insisted that the elections had not been “free and honest”, with no actual opposition crushed and no worldwide observers current.
“These elections are based mostly on repression and intimidation,” Borrell mentioned.
Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has labeled the consequence as illegal. “Everybody on the earth understands that this particular person, like many others all through historical past, has grown sick of energy and can cease at nothing to rule perpetually,” he mentioned.
“There isn’t any evil he would not do to take care of his private energy. And nobody on the earth would have been protected against this.”
Germany
“The pseudo-elections in Russia are neither free nor honest, the end result will shock nobody. Putin’s rule is authoritarian, he depends on censorship, repression and violence. The “elections” within the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void and an additional violation of worldwide legislation,” the German International Ministry mentioned in a submit on social media.
United Kingdom
International Secretary David Cameron mentioned the “unlawful” election was characterised by “an absence of selection for voters and no unbiased OSCE oversight,” including: “This isn’t what a free and honest election appears like.”
Italy
Italian International Minister Antonio Tajani mentioned the “elections had been neither free nor honest.”
“We proceed to work for a simply peace that may lead Russia to finish its conflict of aggression in opposition to Ukraine, in accordance with worldwide legislation.”
Czech Republic
Czech International Minister Jan Lipavsky referred to as the elections a “farce and parody”. He mentioned: “This was the Russian presidential election that confirmed how this regime represses civil society, unbiased media and the opposition.”
Russian elections draw congratulations and condemnation | Elections Information
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