Russians prepare to vote for the presidential election

In the streets of Moscow, election posters have multiplied in recent weeks. The presidential election will be held from March 15 to 17 throughout the country, but also in the Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia.

In total, more than 112 million voters are called to the polls. And some don’t hide it: this weekend, they will vote for Vladimir Putin.

“It’s just my business, who I’m going to vote for. No, of course, it will be for the current president. Because you don’t change horses along the way. Our projects are global, serious, and they must be carried out successfully“, explains a resident of Moscow.

Four candidates are in the running for this election which promises to be unsurprising. Three of them are controlled opponents or without any real weight against Vladimir Putin, 71, who is aiming for a fifth term at the head of the country.

The Russian president hardly campaigned. But in a speech to the Federal Assembly, he promised in particular to “achieve his objectives” in Ukraine. And to devote more funds to education.

“I hope there will be education reform. I would love to because, frankly, it’s terrible, compared to the Soviet era in which I was born and raised. But if we talk about everyday things, of course I wish we could go on vacation more often and the special military operation would end. That’s it that’s all“, explains a resident of the Russian capital.

Far from Moscow, in certain regions where the candidates did not travel to campaign, residents feel little concerned by this election.

“I’m not going to vote. It seems to me that everything has already been decided for us and I am not going to travel these horrible roads with a toddler and I have no one to entrust him to“, explains a woman who lives in a town in the Ural region.

With this election the Russian opposition, imprisoned or in exile, is nevertheless trying to make its voice heard.