Concern over electoral fraud is mounting in Vladimir Putin’s controversial constitutional referendum that would allow him to rule Russia until the age of 83 in 2036.
The images show Russians voting in strange makeshift polling stations on tree stumps, car boots, playgrounds, and park benches as the poll progresses during the pandemic.
The approval in the vote that ends on July 1 will allow Putin to seek two more periods of six years after his current one ends in 2024.
Its approval ratings are at their lowest point as Russia’s economy falters under the impact of the coronavirus epidemic and falling oil prices.
His 59% popularity rating is the lowest since he became president in 2000.
However, there is little chance that the referendum could go against him.
Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings are at their lowest point, but he is expected to win a referendum to keep him in power until 2036.
Reports say people have been able to vote twice: online and on a regular ballot.
There are disturbing claims of mass coercion of state employees in a poll that allows you to vote anytime between June 25 and July 1.
Voters reportedly fear losing their jobs if they don’t vote the “right” way.
Awards for new floors, cars, and even pots and pans are openly offered to those who vote, as well as coupons of up to £ 46 to use in groceries, museums, restaurants, or parking lots.
Against all the rules, some media outlets are offering a running total of those who support Putin based on exit polls, with the figure of 78.6 percent highlighted today with nearly one in five votes.
Television journalist Pavel Lobkov of the independent Dozhd channel claimed that he had successfully cast his vote twice, leading authorities to say that they would invalidate all the votes in the ballot box he had used.
Putin’s enemy and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny said: ‘Case closed.
‘The system counted two votes.
“It is clear that this way for each state employee there will be 30 votes in favor (of Putin).”
Russian policemen dressed in Soviet army style uniforms participate in the Victory Day parade
The Armata T-14 tank (back) follows the T-80BVM tanks through Vasilyevsky Spusk Square after a Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of victory in World War II
If historical changes happen, as is widely expected, Putin would have the legal right to defend two more terms, up to the age of 83, effectively becoming a lifetime czar.
Gay or lesbian marriage would also be prohibited, while “faith in God” would be enshrined in the constitution.
Putin has stated that the vote should be considered fair, but there are increasing doubts.
Apparently, an alleged ‘voting table’ in a St. Petersburg park shows ballot papers that are surreptitiously kept in a box.
Voting officer Grigory Margolin-Kagansky admitted: ‘We see something similar to the filling in of the ballots in the video.
‘This story is also being revised. There is some evidence that this story is false, but it really concerns us.
Therefore, we cannot yet say that the verification has been completed. We will continue to study this topic. ‘
There are unconfirmed claims of buses delivering voters to polling places, a tactic previously criticized for fraud.
Golos, an election monitoring group, warned of ‘massive coercion’ to vote for
employers, government officials and local authorities.
“The secret of the will (of the electors) was not always assured” in the initial vote.
‘Citizens were forced to fill out ballots on benches, tree stumps and car boots in front of other voting participants and members of [electoral] commissions “.
Ballots are issued to voters who have already registered to vote online.
A map shows alleged violations of Golos highlighting ‘abuses’ across Russia.
Independent news outlet Meduza reported that at a Moscow campus three times the total number of voters had requested to vote online.
The peculiar situation was attributed to a “technical error”.
Russia’s top election official faced provocations about voting during the coronavirus crisis that allows outdoor voting.
‘I was sent [messages] about complaints about outdoor voting, ” said Ella Pamfilova, obviously unaware of impromptu ballot boxes in Russia’s 11 time zones.
“They say on the Internet that it is illegal to vote in banks and car boots.
‘Forgive me but nobody votes in banks and car trunks, nobody votes in tents.
“There is no plan to vote for banks and car boots.”
Putin said this week that the most important task is to ensure that “the results of the national vote are absolutely truthful, legitimate.
Voters should not be forced and participation should not be inflated artificially “so that later no one can question the position that the people will express.”
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