World Focus

In Russia, an election like no other

Campaign activists verifying signatures in support of Mr Putin as a candidate at his election campaign office in Moscow in January. On display at the SUPERPUTIN exhibition in Moscow's UMAM museum is this painting depicting "superhero" Russian Preside
Supporters of communist parties and movements holding flags bearing the image of Joseph Stalin as they attend a memorial ceremony at Moscow’s Red Square to mark the 65th anniversary of the Soviet leader’s death.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Campaign activists verifying signatures in support of Mr Putin as a candidate at his election campaign office in Moscow in January. On display at the SUPERPUTIN exhibition in Moscow's UMAM museum is this painting depicting "superhero" Russian Preside
Attendees waving Russian national flags and a banner reading “The Future With Putin” during a pre-election rally in Moscow.PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Campaign activists verifying signatures in support of Mr Putin as a candidate at his election campaign office in Moscow in January. On display at the SUPERPUTIN exhibition in Moscow's UMAM museum is this painting depicting "superhero" Russian Preside
On display at the SUPERPUTIN exhibition in Moscow’s UMAM museum is this painting depicting “superhero” Russian President Vladimir Putin.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Campaign activists verifying signatures in support of Mr Putin as a candidate at his election campaign office in Moscow in January. On display at the SUPERPUTIN exhibition in Moscow's UMAM museum is this painting depicting "superhero" Russian Preside
Supporters of opposition figure Alexei Navalny at a rally calling for a boycott of the presidential election, following the rejection of Mr Navalny’s bid to enter the contest. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Campaign activists verifying signatures in support of Mr Putin as a candidate at his election campaign office in Moscow in January. On display at the SUPERPUTIN exhibition in Moscow's UMAM museum is this painting depicting "superhero" Russian Preside
Campaign activists verifying signatures in support of Mr Putin as a candidate at his election campaign office in Moscow in January. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Campaign activists verifying signatures in support of Mr Putin as a candidate at his election campaign office in Moscow in January. On display at the SUPERPUTIN exhibition in Moscow's UMAM museum is this painting depicting "superhero" Russian Preside
Video footage from Mr Putin’s official website showing the launch of a Sarmat strategic missile.PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir PutinPHOTO: EPA-EFE
PAVEL GRUDININ , 57 (Communist Party): His anti-corruption stance and pledge to fix bad roads have earned him a strong following.
PAVEL GRUDININ , 57 (Communist Party): His anti-corruption stance and pledge to fix bad roads have earned him a strong following.PHOTO: REUTERS
KSENIA SOBCHAK, 36 (Civil Initiative): She is the first woman to contest the presidency in 14 years and the youngest candidate since 2004.
KSENIA SOBCHAK, 36 (Civil Initiative): She is the first woman to contest the presidency in 14 years and the youngest candidate since 2004.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY, 71 (Liberal Democratic Party): This is the fifth time he is running for president since the Soviet Union broke up. The ultra nationalist has promised a “brutal dictatorship”.
VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY, 71 (Liberal Democratic Party): This is the fifth time he is running for president since the Soviet Union broke up. The ultra nationalist has promised a “brutal dictatorship”.PHOTO: EPA-EFE
GRIGORY YAVLINSKY, 65 (Yabloko): He has been delivering fierce public criticism of Mr Putin’s policies towards Ukraine.
GRIGORY YAVLINSKY, 65 (Yabloko): He has been delivering fierce public criticism of Mr Putin’s policies towards Ukraine.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

With Putin's win a given, what matters is only the share of the vote in his favour and the turnout rate

Published: 
Mar 13, 2018, 5:00 am SGT
Jonathan Eyal Europe Correspondent In London

Joseph Stalin, the old Soviet ruler, is reputed to have once remarked jokingly that "it does not matter how the people vote; it only matters who counts their votes".

The people of Russia going to the voting booths in less than a week's time to elect their president are no longer likely to be treated in such a dismissive manner; nobody will be watching over their shoulders, and their ballots will - on the whole - be properly counted.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 13, 2018, with the headline 'An election like no other'. Print Edition | Subscribe
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