Critics of the Kremlin see Russia as a dictatorship. And yet, from today until Sunday, presidential elections are being held in this vast country. But the result is predetermined: Vladimir Putin, who has already completed 25 years in power, will be re-elected for a fifth term as president.

The only opposition politician left who could perhaps challenge Putin’s omnipotence is Boris Nadezhdin, a critic of the war in Ukraine and a former local councillor. But he too was excluded from the presidential elections, due to irregularities in the collection of the 100,000 signatures that are considered necessary for filing an independent candidacy, as the Central Election Commission claims.

Polls matter to Putin

Everyone may take the outcome of the election for granted, but for Putin himself the polls are of particular importance, points out Nikolai Petrov, a researcher at the Berlin-based German Foundation for Science and Politics (SWP). “For Vladimir Putin it is very important to show – not so much towards the West, but more within the borders – a sense of confirmation of his policy,” says Petrov. “The Kremlin on the one hand is trying to ensure an excellent result and on the other hand is doing everything it can to avoid any scandal and anything that could overshadow Putin’s image.”

In theory, the president’s main opponents in the election are the 75-year-old Nikolai Kharitonov, candidate of the Russian Communist Party, as well as the deputy speaker of the Russian Parliament and deputy of the “Young People” Vladislav Davankov. According to Reuters estimates, they are not expected to exceed a percentage of 4-5% of the votes. It should be noted that both the communist Kharitonov and the “liberal” Davankov welcome Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.

Political analyst and former Kremlin adviser Konstantin Kalachev tells Deutsche Welle that, within borders, the presidential election will act as a legitimization of Putin’s power. As for abroad, “the point is to show that Putin reflects the expectations of the voters, that the president and the majority of the population are moving forward together, that any expectations of the West are refuted.”

“Measures” for greater attendance

As the outcome of the election is taken for granted, in theory voters have little incentive to go to the polls. However, according to the independent Meduza newspaper, based in Latvia, the Russian authorities are “taking measures” to ensure the maximum possible attendance. A participation rate of around 80% is requested. To fulfill the goal, Meduza estimates, “the authorities are mobilizing voters who depend on the state, that is, civil servants, workers in state enterprises, as well as their relatives and friends.”

Citing sources in the ruling United Russia party, the newspaper claims that all party members are “encouraged” to bring at least ten more voters with them to the polling stations. As the voting is done electronically, the state authorities are able to check at any time who went to the polls and who did not based on their digital code.