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Russian election: President Vladimir Putin claims fifth term in inevitable poll landslide - BBC News Russian election: President Vladimir Putin claims fifth term in inevitable poll landslide - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Anastassia Zlatopolskaya Oleg Boldyrev
BBC Russian, in Tel Aviv BBC Russian, in Narva
Posters hold slogans that say "Stop war" and "Open your eyes". They hold white-blue flags, which have become a semi-official symbol of Across the river from this Estonian border town lies Russia and the formidable Ivangorod fortress. It's one of a handful of places where the border between the EU and Russia is still open, even if it's only for foot traffic.
Russian opposition movement, as well as the Russian tricolour as they gather at the Thousands of Estonians are Russian citizens, in fact almost a quarter of them are and all they had to do to vote in the presidential elections was cross the bridge and head for the nearest polling station.
Russia's Consulate in Tel Aviv at noon. People we spoke to weren't exactly forthcoming. Many said they might get into trouble if they spoke their mind because backing Putin's war in Ukraine is very unpopular here.
The queue on Kaufman Street started But one local resident named Anna, told us she voted for Putin.
forming much earlier and quickly stretched for more than half a kilometre, “He's closer to my viewpoint, I understand him. I have no doubts about him,” she said. “I think every president should care for his country and his people, I see this in Putin. I have a sister there, my husband's brother there, our relatives are buried there. To cut us apart is - painful.”
crossing the intersection and turning around the corner for another couple of Their votes won't make any difference, as Putin's victory was a fact even before the vote started. But the feelings of Russians in this town on the edge of the European Union show the difficulties facing Baltic states which are nervously watching their giant neighbour to the East.
hundred meters.
Many came to vote not only from the
neighbouring cities but even from the southern part of the country - Be'er
Sheva, Ashkelon, Ashdod.
The hardly-moving line includes both those who
came for the rally and those who just wanted to vote. Igor came from Ashdod but doesn't intend to vote: "I didn't even bother to
take my passport; I don't want to have anything in common with them."
Passers-by stop to find out what the crowd is
about and smile approvingly.
Konstantin came with friends from Givatayim:
"It's a way to speak out against Putin and show that there are many of us.
It's a way in these absolutely fake elections to convey to other people
something that propaganda says - that the majority supports Putin - is an
absolute lie."
"For people who oppose the regime that
seized Russia it's very important to see each other. The actions of the Putin
regime are aimed precisely at dividing all people, showing that we are a small
marginal bunch. But in reality, no, there are many of us!".
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