Russia’s top court has reportedly banned the country’s only registered anti-war political party ahead of key elections, dealing a significant blow to the organised anti-war opposition.

The court decision comes as Russia prepares for an important electoral period and amid continued scrutiny of political competition and opposition activity. The move could further reshape the country’s political landscape ahead of the upcoming vote.

 Russia's Top Court Bans Only Registered Anti-War Party Ahead of Key Elections

Vladimir Putin has won six more years. This term also poses some important challenges. Let's have a look at some of them.

What are the top challenges Putin is going to face in the new six-year term?

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory in the country's presidential elections extending his rule till 2030.&nbsp;With more than 80 per cent of the votes counted by 1 am (Moscow Time), Putin was leading the race with an estimated 87.15 per cent of total votes polled.&nbsp;

Putin's closest opponent, the Communist Party's Nikolay Kharitonov is expected to come in second with 4.2 per cent votes of total votes polled. The voter turnout across Russia topped 74 per cent, the country's Central Election Commission said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-wins-russian-presidential-election-with-8797-per-cent-of-votes-state-tv-shows-701250">Putin leading in Russian presidential election with 87.97 per cent of votes: Report</a>

In a speech at his campaign headquarters on Sunday evening, Putin attempted to denounce the Western criticism of the elections and told his supporters that the West's reaction was on "expected" lines.&nbsp;

"What did you want, for them to applaud us? They’re fighting with us in an armed conflict … their goal is to contain our development. Of course, they are ready to say anything," he said.

The United States had previously described elections in Russia&nbsp;as "obviously not free nor fair".

Putin had been defending his presidential&nbsp;record in the face of war in Ukraine launched by him in February 2022 and sentiments across Russia over the death of prominent Russian dissident Alexei Navalny last month in a prison. Both these factors loomed large in Putin's latest address,&nbsp;currently being dubbed as his 'victory speech'.

<h2>Putin's first reaction over Navalny's death</h2>

For the first time since the death of Alexei Navalny, Putin said he had approved the exchange of the Kremlin critic for Russian prisoners in the West shortly before his death.

"Unfortunately, what happened happened," he said. "I agreed under one condition: we swap him, and he doesn’t come back. But that’s life."

<h2>'Everything is possible': Putin on conflict with NATO</h2>

Putin claimed he was securing the border from recent raids by pro-Ukrainian military units and said that his main tasks as president would be "strengthening defence capacity and the military".

Asked about the potential for a direct conflict with NATO, he said: "I think that everything is possible in the modern world … everyone understands that this would be one step from a full-scale third world war. I don’t think that anyone is interested in that."

<h2>Russia elections: Putin claims landslide in 'new' territories&nbsp;</h2>

Putin gained 94.12 per cent of the votes in Luhansk and over 95 per cent in the Donetsk region, sometimes collectively referred to as the Donbas region that Russia now claims as its own in the wake of the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;

The Russian state media reported that the&nbsp;results from the Republics of Tyva,&nbsp;Khakassia, and Yakutia, the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Khabarovsk, and from Chukotka Autonomous Region also show Putin leading&nbsp;with roughly 90 per cent of the vote.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putins-russia-enters-election-mode-with-new-territories-from-ukraine-top-points-700217">Putin's Russia enters election mode with 'new' territories from Ukraine: Top points</a>

Putin's victory comes despite the war in Ukraine whose cumulative impact&nbsp;— in most Western capitals&nbsp;—&nbsp;was expected to result in the crippling of the Russian economy.&nbsp;

But by promoting manufacturing at home, sourcing the imports from 'friendly' countries, and gradually decreasing the discounts on oil exports, Putin managed to keep the Russian economy standing despite unprecedented Western sanctions in the wake of the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-capitals-from-lisbon-to-delhi-inside-worlds-longest-spring-of-elections-701243">The Capitals: From Lisbon to Delhi, inside world's longest spring of elections</a>

By 2029, Putin's tenure will have surpassed that of Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for 29 years. By 2030, Putin will have the longest tenure of any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the late 1700s.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory in the country's presidential elections extending his rule till 2030. With more than 80 per cent of the votes counted by 1 am (Moscow Time), Putin was leading the race with an estimated 87.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory in the country's presidential elections extending his rule till 2030. With more than 80 per cent of the votes counted by 1 am (Moscow Time), Putin was leading the race with an estimated 87.15 per cent of total votes polled. Putin's closest opponent, the Communist Party's Nikolay Kharitonov is expected to come in second with 4.2 per cent votes of total votes polled. The voter turnout across Russia topped 74 per cent, the country's Central Election Commission said. Also read | Putin leading in Russian presidential election with 87.97 per cent of votes: Report In a speech at his campaign headquarters on Sunday evening, Putin attempted to denounce the Western criticism of the elections and told his supporters that the West's reaction was on "expected" lines. "What did you want, for them to applaud us? They’re fighting with us in an armed conflict … their goal is to contain our development. Of course, they are ready to say anything," he said. The United States had previously described elections in Russia as "obviously not free nor fair". Putin had been defending his presidential record in the face of war in Ukraine launched by him in February 2022 and sentiments across Russia over the death of prominent Russian dissident Alexei Navalny last month in a prison. Both these factors loomed large in Putin's latest address, currently being dubbed as his 'victory speech'. Putin's first reaction over Navalny's death For the first time since the death of Alexei Navalny, Putin said he had approved the exchange of the Kremlin critic for Russian prisoners in the West shortly before his death. "Unfortunately, what happened happened," he said. "I agreed under one condition: we swap him, and he doesn’t come back. But that’s life." 'Everything is possible': Putin on conflict with NATO Putin claimed he was securing the border from recent raids by pro-Ukrainian military units and said that his main tasks as president would be "strengthening defence capacity and the military". Asked about the potential for a direct conflict with NATO, he said: "I think that everything is possible in the modern world … everyone understands that this would be one step from a full-scale third world war. I don’t think that anyone is interested in that." Russia elections: Putin claims landslide in 'new' territories Putin gained 94.12 per cent of the votes in Luhansk and over 95 per cent in the Donetsk region, sometimes collectively referred to as the Donbas region that Russia now claims as its own in the wake of the war in Ukraine. The Russian state media reported that the results from the Republics of Tyva, Khakassia, and Yakutia, the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Khabarovsk, and from Chukotka Autonomous Region also show Putin leading with roughly 90 per cent of the vote. Also read | Putin's Russia enters election mode with 'new' territories from Ukraine: Top points Putin's victory comes despite the war in Ukraine whose cumulative impact — in most Western capitals — was expected to result in the crippling of the Russian economy. But by promoting manufacturing at home, sourcing the imports from 'friendly' countries, and gradually decreasing the discounts on oil exports, Putin managed to keep the Russian economy standing despite unprecedented Western sanctions in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Also read | The Capitals: From Lisbon to Delhi, inside world's longest spring of elections By 2029, Putin's tenure will have surpassed that of Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for 29 years. By 2030, Putin will have the longest tenure of any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the late 1700s.

Putin set to assume fifth term as Russian president after landslide victory

With elections next month, who are Vladimir Putin's challengers and what chance to they stand against the long-time russian president?

Russia Presidential elections: Russia spy service accuses US of trying to meddle in polls

Former TV journalist and Russian lawmaker calling for peace in Ukraine, Yekaterina Duntsova, submitted her application on Wednesday (Dec 20) to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin in the country’s upcoming elections in March 2024.&nbsp;

She presented her documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to register as a candidate days after taking her first steps toward candidate status Sunday. In line with the country’s law, her run had to be endorsed by 500 supporters.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Humane’ Russia</h2>

The 40-year-old Russian lawmaker hopes to challenge Putin by promoting her vision of a “humane” Russia “that’s peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.”

Duntsova, in an interview with Reuters last month, called for an end to the war in Ukraine and the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny.&nbsp;

She has submitted her documents to formally enter the election which Putin is expected to win, a foregone conclusion by supporters and opponents alike.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-will-run-again-in-russian-presidential-elections-next-march-667595">Vladimir Putin will run again in Russian presidential elections next March</a>

“I feel a sense of accomplishment: We’ve done everything that we needed to do. We’ve made this step, and I think it should inspire people who support us,” said Duntsova, speaking to journalists in Moscow on Wednesday.

If accepted as an independent candidate, the former journalist faces the herculean task of collecting 300,000 signatures of support for her candidacy, from at least 40 Russian regions, by January 31.&nbsp;

“(I hope that) I’ll at least be registered (as a candidate). But, of course, collecting signatures is a huge job and I hope that people will be actively taking part.”

She also corrected a reporter who asked if she thought the authorities would actually allow her to stand. “Why are we talking about permission if this is my right according to the law and I have that possibility and have the necessary qualities to put myself forward?” she responded.&nbsp;

“We are just moving according to the formula prescribed by federal law, and for that we don’t need anyone’s permission,” Duntsova added.&nbsp;

In her interview with Reuters, Duntsova avoided using the word “war” to describe the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which Putin calls his “special military operation",&nbsp;but did acknowledge that she was afraid. “Any sane person taking this step would be afraid - but fear must not win.”&nbsp;

<h2>Upcoming Russian presidential elections</h2>

Russian state parliament set March 17 as the date for the country’s 2024 presidential election earlier this month.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-court-filings-show-two-navalny-court-hearings-postponed-until-january-671069">Russian court filings show two Navalny court hearings postponed until January</a>

Putin, who has been in power either as president or prime minister since 1999, announced his candidacy earlier this month and has sought another six-year term. If he wins, this will be the 71-year-old incumbent’s 5th term in office.&nbsp;

Over his more than two decades in power, Putin has established tight control on Russia’s political system, and with prominent critics in jail or outside the country at risk of arrest, there are no established opposition figures to challenge him.

Navalny’s supporters have called the process a sham, saying the Kremlin, via the electoral commission, controls who can run and can easily manipulate the vote with the help of an opaque electronic voting system.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Kremlin says that Putin will win because he enjoys overwhelming public support, with opinion poll ratings of around 80 per cent.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former TV journalist and Russian lawmaker calling for peace in Ukraine, Yekaterina Duntsova, submitted her application on Wednesday (Dec 20) to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin in the country’s upcoming elections in March 2024.

Former TV journalist and Russian lawmaker calling for peace in Ukraine, Yekaterina Duntsova, submitted her application on Wednesday (Dec 20) to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin in the country’s upcoming elections in March 2024. She presented her documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to register as a candidate days after taking her first steps toward candidate status Sunday. In line with the country’s law, her run had to be endorsed by 500 supporters. ‘Humane’ Russia The 40-year-old Russian lawmaker hopes to challenge Putin by promoting her vision of a “humane” Russia “that’s peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.” Duntsova, in an interview with Reuters last month, called for an end to the war in Ukraine and the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny. She has submitted her documents to formally enter the election which Putin is expected to win, a foregone conclusion by supporters and opponents alike. ALSO READ | Vladimir Putin will run again in Russian presidential elections next March “I feel a sense of accomplishment: We’ve done everything that we needed to do. We’ve made this step, and I think it should inspire people who support us,” said Duntsova, speaking to journalists in Moscow on Wednesday. If accepted as an independent candidate, the former journalist faces the herculean task of collecting 300,000 signatures of support for her candidacy, from at least 40 Russian regions, by January 31. “(I hope that) I’ll at least be registered (as a candidate). But, of course, collecting signatures is a huge job and I hope that people will be actively taking part.” She also corrected a reporter who asked if she thought the authorities would actually allow her to stand. “Why are we talking about permission if this is my right according to the law and I have that possibility and have the necessary qualities to put myself forward?” she responded. “We are just moving according to the formula prescribed by federal law, and for that we don’t need anyone’s permission,” Duntsova added. In her interview with Reuters, Duntsova avoided using the word “war” to describe the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which Putin calls his “special military operation", but did acknowledge that she was afraid. “Any sane person taking this step would be afraid - but fear must not win.” Upcoming Russian presidential elections Russian state parliament set March 17 as the date for the country’s 2024 presidential election earlier this month. ALSO READ | Russian court filings show two Navalny court hearings postponed until January Putin, who has been in power either as president or prime minister since 1999, announced his candidacy earlier this month and has sought another six-year term. If he wins, this will be the 71-year-old incumbent’s 5th term in office. Over his more than two decades in power, Putin has established tight control on Russia’s political system, and with prominent critics in jail or outside the country at risk of arrest, there are no established opposition figures to challenge him. Navalny’s supporters have called the process a sham, saying the Kremlin, via the electoral commission, controls who can run and can easily manipulate the vote with the help of an opaque electronic voting system. Meanwhile, the Kremlin says that Putin will win because he enjoys overwhelming public support, with opinion poll ratings of around 80 per cent. (With inputs from agencies)

Anti-war Russian presidential hopeful Yekaterina Duntsova applies to run in election against Putin

Russia's political opposition Monday&nbsp;claimed a symbolic victory in regional elections that were dominated by pro-Kremlin candidates and marred by allegations of fraud. 
 
The vote was overshadowed by the alleged poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the Siberian city of Tomsk during a trip to promote opposition candidates ahead of the ballot. 
 
Germany said Monday that lab tests in France and Sweden confirmed the Kremlin critic was attacked with a Novichok nerve agent in an incident French President Emmanuel Marcon described as "attempted murder" during a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-loans-15-billion-to-belarus-during-putin-lukashenko-talks-in-sochi-327506">Russia loans $1.5 billion to Belarus during Putin-Lukashenko talks in Sochi</a> 
 
The elections came a year ahead of a parliamentary ballot and were seen as a test for Putin as the ruling United Russia party faces sinking popularity and public anger over economic woes. 
 
Russians in dozens of the country's 85 regions voted from Friday to Sunday for governors and lawmakers in regional and city legislatures as well as in several by-elections for national MPs. 
 
Candidates from the ruling United Russia party that dominates the country's political landscape despite declining popularity claimed a majority of the seats. 
 
But Navalny's allies made unprecedented gains in highly anticipated city council votes in Siberian cities of Novosibirsk and Tomsk. 
 
In an effort to fight Putin's electoral machine, Navalny had urged voters back candidates against the ruling party. 
 
The 44-year-old lawyer and Kremlin critic was in Siberia promoting a "smart voting" campaign when he fell ill last month.&nbsp; 
 
His supporters believe the use of the banned chemical weapon shows that only the Russian state could be responsible.&nbsp; 
 
Putin on Monday condemned "unsubstantiated" accusations over Navalny's poisoning during a call with Macron and said Germany should hand over biological materials and coordinate with Russian doctors. 
 
Two allies of the opposition leader won parliament seats in Tomsk, the city where Navalny's allies say he drank tea that was laced with the nerve agent before a flight to Moscow. 
 
United Russia suffered heavy losses in the city of some 500,000, winning just 24.46 percent of the overall vote compared to 52.27 percent in 2015.

'Big blow' to United Russia 
Ksenia Fadeyeva, the 28-year-old head of Navalny's Tomsk office who won a city council seat, put her success down to the opposition leader's voting strategy saying, "we really campaigned under the Navalny brand". 
 
The result was "a big blow" to United Russia ahead of legislative elections of next year, she told AFP, and also disproved the myth that the opposition only has 2 or 3 percent support. 
 
"But the work continues. No time to rest yet," she said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-nuclear-missile-with-global-reach-is-capable-of-attacking-from-unexpected-directions-327492" hreflang="en">Russian nuclear missile with global reach is capable of 'unexpected' attacks</a> 
 
In Russia's third-largest city of Novosibirsk, which Navalny also visited before the vote, his ally Sergei Boyko won a seat on the local council beating out a veteran Communist Party candidate. 
 
United Russia lost 11 seats and their majority on the city council securing 22 places out of 50, with Navalny-backed candidates picking up five spots. 
 
United Russia chairman Dmitry Medvedev, however, praised Sunday the party's electoral successes, saying that exit polls showed it was heading for victory. 
 
Of 18 regions that voted for governors, 12 elected candidates from United Russia and the remainder chose figures aligned with traditionally Kremlin-friendly opposition parties. 
 
Vote organisers said they held the ballot between Friday and Sunday to limit new coronavirus infections. But the opposition countered that the move was a ploy to make it easier for the results to be fabricated. 
 
The independent election monitor group Golos said it had registered ballot stuffing complaints and received a "stream of reports" that observers were barred from viewing documents and submitting complaints, with conflicts sometimes ending in "fisticuffs". 
 
Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova however said Monday "there were no major violations" and that the vote had seen "fewer flaws than ever," according to the TASS news agency. 
 
The European Union denounced the vote held in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, saying it would not recognise "anybody elected in Russia-organised voting in the Crimean peninsula".&nbsp;

Russia's political opposition Monday claimed a symbolic victory in regional elections that were dominated by pro-Kremlin candidates and marred by allegations of fraud.

Russia's political opposition Monday claimed a symbolic victory in regional elections that were dominated by pro-Kremlin candidates and marred by allegations of fraud. The vote was overshadowed by the alleged poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the Siberian city of Tomsk during a trip to promote opposition candidates ahead of the ballot. Germany said Monday that lab tests in France and Sweden confirmed the Kremlin critic was attacked with a Novichok nerve agent in an incident French President Emmanuel Marcon described as "attempted murder" during a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Also read: Russia loans $1.5 billion to Belarus during Putin-Lukashenko talks in Sochi The elections came a year ahead of a parliamentary ballot and were seen as a test for Putin as the ruling United Russia party faces sinking popularity and public anger over economic woes. Russians in dozens of the country's 85 regions voted from Friday to Sunday for governors and lawmakers in regional and city legislatures as well as in several by-elections for national MPs. Candidates from the ruling United Russia party that dominates the country's political landscape despite declining popularity claimed a majority of the seats. But Navalny's allies made unprecedented gains in highly anticipated city council votes in Siberian cities of Novosibirsk and Tomsk. In an effort to fight Putin's electoral machine, Navalny had urged voters back candidates against the ruling party. The 44-year-old lawyer and Kremlin critic was in Siberia promoting a "smart voting" campaign when he fell ill last month. His supporters believe the use of the banned chemical weapon shows that only the Russian state could be responsible. Putin on Monday condemned "unsubstantiated" accusations over Navalny's poisoning during a call with Macron and said Germany should hand over biological materials and coordinate with Russian doctors. Two allies of the opposition leader won parliament seats in Tomsk, the city where Navalny's allies say he drank tea that was laced with the nerve agent before a flight to Moscow. United Russia suffered heavy losses in the city of some 500,000, winning just 24.46 percent of the overall vote compared to 52.27 percent in 2015. 'Big blow' to United Russia Ksenia Fadeyeva, the 28-year-old head of Navalny's Tomsk office who won a city council seat, put her success down to the opposition leader's voting strategy saying, "we really campaigned under the Navalny brand". The result was "a big blow" to United Russia ahead of legislative elections of next year, she told AFP, and also disproved the myth that the opposition only has 2 or 3 percent support. "But the work continues. No time to rest yet," she said. Also read: Russian nuclear missile with global reach is capable of 'unexpected' attacks In Russia's third-largest city of Novosibirsk, which Navalny also visited before the vote, his ally Sergei Boyko won a seat on the local council beating out a veteran Communist Party candidate. United Russia lost 11 seats and their majority on the city council securing 22 places out of 50, with Navalny-backed candidates picking up five spots. United Russia chairman Dmitry Medvedev, however, praised Sunday the party's electoral successes, saying that exit polls showed it was heading for victory. Of 18 regions that voted for governors, 12 elected candidates from United Russia and the remainder chose figures aligned with traditionally Kremlin-friendly opposition parties. Vote organisers said they held the ballot between Friday and Sunday to limit new coronavirus infections. But the opposition countered that the move was a ploy to make it easier for the results to be fabricated. The independent election monitor group Golos said it had registered ballot stuffing complaints and received a "stream of reports" that observers were barred from viewing documents and submitting complaints, with conflicts sometimes ending in "fisticuffs". Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova however said Monday "there were no major violations" and that the vote had seen "fewer flaws than ever," according to the TASS news agency. The European Union denounced the vote held in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, saying it would not recognise "anybody elected in Russia-organised voting in the Crimean peninsula".

Navalny allies claim symbolic win in Russian regional vote

Over the last week, millions of Russians have been voting to reform their constitution, a move that will now make Russian President Vladamir Putin's rule until 2036. Watch report.

Putin's reform package from Russia: Putin's grand bid to hold onto power

Russian voters are set to propel Vladimir Putin to another term as president in an election on Sunday, giving him credit for standing up for Russia against Western governments that view him as a dangerous autocrat.

Opinion polls show Putin, 65, with a commanding election lead, all but guaranteeing him another term that will take him to nearly a quarter century in power -- a longevity among Kremlin leaders second only to Josef Stalin.

The only thing that could dampen Putin&#39;s poll triumph is if voter apathy at a predictable contest leads to a low turnout, or if the minority of Russians who vocally oppose him take to the streets to protest against what they see as an undemocratic farce.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-in-10-dates-35556" target="_blank">Russian President Vladimir Putin </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-in-10-dates-35556" target="_blank">in</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-in-10-dates-35556" target="_blank"> 10 dates</a>

In an election campaign where Putin has benefited from glowing coverage on mainstream television, he has cast himself as the only person who can defend Russia&#39;s national interests in a hostile world.

&quot;We will withstand this onslaught,&quot; Svetlana Andrus, a ribbon round her neck in the colours of the Russian flag, said during a rally in Moscow in support of Putin. &quot;We will support our country and Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin).&quot;

Putin&#39;s supporters point to Russia&#39;s military intervention in Syria and its annexation of Ukraine&#39;s Crimea region in 2014 as proof of his patriotic credentials. They say U.S. and European sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis are a price worth paying.

A row with Britain over allegations the Kremlin used a nerve agent to poison a Russian double agent in a sleepy English town -- denied by Moscow -- has not dented his standing.

BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN

A March 9 survey by state-run pollster VTsIOM gave Putin, who was first elected president in 2000, support of 69 percent. His nearest rival Pavel Grudinin, the Communist Party&#39;s candidate, is on just 7 percent.

Another candidate, Ksenia Sobchak, a TV presenter and family friend of Putin, has upended expectations by robustly criticising the Kremlin, but she has only 2 percent support, the same survey showed.

Kremlin officials acknowledge that Putin&#39;s dominance could turn people off voting. A low turnout would dent his legitimacy within the ruling elite, founded in part on his ability to command popular support.

In Yekaterinburg, an industrial city in the Ural mountains, unemployed 38-year-old Sergei Khaziev described the election as a &quot;circus performance which for some reason is described as elections... I won&#39;t turn out this time.&quot;

The first politician in years to challenge the Kremlin&#39;s grip on power, Alexei Navalny, is not on the ballot. He was barred because of a corruption conviction he says was fabricated by the Kremlin.

Navalny, who uses social media to whip up anger among his mainly young followers over official corruption, is pushing an election boycott.

&quot;Our boycott campaign is working,&quot; he said this week. As evidence, Navalny pointed to a drive by officials to encourage people to turn out to vote by offering discounted food at polling stations. He also said state officials were applying pressure on civil servants and students to vote.

BURDENS OF OFFICE

Though winning another term is virtually assured, governing Russia for another six years will throw up plentiful challenges.

Buffeted by lower oil prices and the effect of Western sanctions, Russia&#39;s gross domestic product expanded by only 1.5 percent last year, well below the robust growth Russians had come to expect in the earlier years of Putin&#39;s rule.

Putin has spoken of the need to revive economic growth but the steps that many economists prescribe - especially shrinking the state&#39;s role in the economy - are resisted by those in the president&#39;s circle who owe their status and wealth to the state.

His next term may also be overshadowed by uncertainty over his plans once it ends. Term limits bar him from running for another consecutive term, and Putin has said he will not change the constitution to extend his time in office.

Sources inside Russia&#39;s ruling elite say they anticipate he will repeat the manoeuvre he deployed in 2008, the last time he faced term limits, when a loyal lieutenant took over the presidency while Putin governed from behind the scenes.

If Putin, who will be 71 when his next term ends, wants a peaceful retirement, however, he will have to try to engineer a succession. That risks unleashing simmering tensions between rival groups in the ruling elite.

Voting starts in the far east of the vast Russian Federation at 8 am local time (2000 GMT on Saturday) and will roll westwards over 11 time zones, with polling booths in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad due to close at 1900 GMT on Sunday.

Opinion polls show Putin, 65, with a commanding election lead, all but guaranteeing him another term that will take him to nearly a quarter century in power — a longevity among Kremlin leaders second only to Josef Stalin.

Russian voters are set to propel Vladimir Putin to another term as president in an election on Sunday, giving him credit for standing up for Russia against Western governments that view him as a dangerous autocrat. Opinion polls show Putin, 65, with a commanding election lead, all but guaranteeing him another term that will take him to nearly a quarter century in power -- a longevity among Kremlin leaders second only to Josef Stalin. The only thing that could dampen Putin's poll triumph is if voter apathy at a predictable contest leads to a low turnout, or if the minority of Russians who vocally oppose him take to the streets to protest against what they see as an undemocratic farce. Also read: Russian President Vladimir Putin in 10 dates In an election campaign where Putin has benefited from glowing coverage on mainstream television, he has cast himself as the only person who can defend Russia's national interests in a hostile world. "We will withstand this onslaught," Svetlana Andrus, a ribbon round her neck in the colours of the Russian flag, said during a rally in Moscow in support of Putin. "We will support our country and Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin)." Putin's supporters point to Russia's military intervention in Syria and its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 as proof of his patriotic credentials. They say U.S. and European sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis are a price worth paying. A row with Britain over allegations the Kremlin used a nerve agent to poison a Russian double agent in a sleepy English town -- denied by Moscow -- has not dented his standing. BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN A March 9 survey by state-run pollster VTsIOM gave Putin, who was first elected president in 2000, support of 69 percent. His nearest rival Pavel Grudinin, the Communist Party's candidate, is on just 7 percent. Another candidate, Ksenia Sobchak, a TV presenter and family friend of Putin, has upended expectations by robustly criticising the Kremlin, but she has only 2 percent support, the same survey showed. Kremlin officials acknowledge that Putin's dominance could turn people off voting. A low turnout would dent his legitimacy within the ruling elite, founded in part on his ability to command popular support. In Yekaterinburg, an industrial city in the Ural mountains, unemployed 38-year-old Sergei Khaziev described the election as a "circus performance which for some reason is described as elections... I won't turn out this time." The first politician in years to challenge the Kremlin's grip on power, Alexei Navalny, is not on the ballot. He was barred because of a corruption conviction he says was fabricated by the Kremlin. Navalny, who uses social media to whip up anger among his mainly young followers over official corruption, is pushing an election boycott. "Our boycott campaign is working," he said this week. As evidence, Navalny pointed to a drive by officials to encourage people to turn out to vote by offering discounted food at polling stations. He also said state officials were applying pressure on civil servants and students to vote. BURDENS OF OFFICE Though winning another term is virtually assured, governing Russia for another six years will throw up plentiful challenges. Buffeted by lower oil prices and the effect of Western sanctions, Russia's gross domestic product expanded by only 1.5 percent last year, well below the robust growth Russians had come to expect in the earlier years of Putin's rule. Putin has spoken of the need to revive economic growth but the steps that many economists prescribe - especially shrinking the state's role in the economy - are resisted by those in the president's circle who owe their status and wealth to the state. His next term may also be overshadowed by uncertainty over his plans once it ends. Term limits bar him from running for another consecutive term, and Putin has said he will not change the constitution to extend his time in office. Sources inside Russia's ruling elite say they anticipate he will repeat the manoeuvre he deployed in 2008, the last time he faced term limits, when a loyal lieutenant took over the presidency while Putin governed from behind the scenes. If Putin, who will be 71 when his next term ends, wants a peaceful retirement, however, he will have to try to engineer a succession. That risks unleashing simmering tensions between rival groups in the ruling elite. Voting starts in the far east of the vast Russian Federation at 8 am local time (2000 GMT on Saturday) and will roll westwards over 11 time zones, with polling booths in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad due to close at 1900 GMT on Sunday.

Putin rides 'Russia First' wave towards election victory