Vladimir Putin was leading in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation with 87.97% of the votes, as per the latest reports after the polls closed.

Nikolai Kharitonov had polled 3.8% of the votes, Leonid Slutsky 2.96% of the votes, Vladislav Davankov 3.73% of the votes, according to the first data of the Central Election Commission after processing 24.4 % of protocols, as per Russian&nbsp;state-owned domestic&nbsp;news agency&nbsp;RIA Novosti. 
 
The first data of the voting results were published in the CEC information centre. 
 
Putin was leading in Russia's presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, according to the first official results showed on Sunday (March 17) after polls closed.&nbsp;Voting took place over three days: March 15, 16 and 17.

Russia 24 state television showed exit polls stood at 87 per cent at first and soon after announced the first official results at 87.9.

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>

<h2>Reactions pour in following the early results of the polls</h2>

White House National Security Council Spokesperson

"The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

"These days, the Russian dictator is simulating another election. It is clear to everyone in the world that this figure, as it has already often happened in the course of history, is simply sick for power and is doing everything to rule forever."

"There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be. This person should be on trial in The Hague. That's what we have to ensure."

Germany's Foreign Ministry took to social media platform X and wrote, "The pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression &amp; violence. The "election" in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void &amp; another breach of international law."

UK Foreign Minister David Cameron

"The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like," he wrote on X.

Polish foreign ministry released a statement saying, "From March 15-17, 2024, so-called presidential elections took place in Russia. The voting took place in conditions of extreme repression against society, making it impossible to make a free, democratic choice."

(With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin was leading in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation with 87.97% of the votes, as per the latest reports after the polls closed. Nikolai Kharitonov had polled 3.

Vladimir Putin was leading in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation with 87.97% of the votes, as per the latest reports after the polls closed. Nikolai Kharitonov had polled 3.8% of the votes, Leonid Slutsky 2.96% of the votes, Vladislav Davankov 3.73% of the votes, according to the first data of the Central Election Commission after processing 24.4 % of protocols, as per Russian state-owned domestic news agency RIA Novosti. The first data of the voting results were published in the CEC information centre. Putin was leading in Russia's presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, according to the first official results showed on Sunday (March 17) after polls closed. Voting took place over three days: March 15, 16 and 17. Russia 24 state television showed exit polls stood at 87 per cent at first and soon after announced the first official results at 87.9. Also read: The Capitals: From Lisbon to Delhi, inside world's longest spring of elections Reactions pour in following the early results of the polls White House National Security Council Spokesperson "The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "These days, the Russian dictator is simulating another election. It is clear to everyone in the world that this figure, as it has already often happened in the course of history, is simply sick for power and is doing everything to rule forever." "There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be. This person should be on trial in The Hague. That's what we have to ensure." Germany's Foreign Ministry took to social media platform X and wrote, "The pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The "election" in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law." UK Foreign Minister David Cameron "The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like," he wrote on X. Polish foreign ministry released a statement saying, "From March 15-17, 2024, so-called presidential elections took place in Russia. The voting took place in conditions of extreme repression against society, making it impossible to make a free, democratic choice." (With inputs from agencies)

Putin leading in Russian presidential election with 87.97 per cent of votes: Report

Early voting in Russia’s presidential election began in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, reported state news agency TASS, on Sunday (Feb 25) citing a Moscow-appointed local election official. Meanwhile, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations said that they will “never recognise” the elections held in the occupied Ukrainian regions.&nbsp;

<h2>Russian presidential election early voting</h2>

Early voting for the Russian presidential election kicked off in the Russian-occupied region of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, said Galina Katyushchenko, chairperson of the regional election commission, according to TASS.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: EU President says, 'More than ever, we stand firmly by Ukraine'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-eu-president-says-more-than-ever-we-stand-firmly-by-ukraine-693743/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The district election commission members will reportedly go door-to-door in the settlements which are adjacent to the frontline amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with ballot papers and boxes and the residents of these areas and Russian soldiers, will be the first ones to vote.&nbsp;

“People who live close to the line of engagement and service members will be the first to vote,” Katyushchenko told reporters, as quoted by TASS.&nbsp;

The voters will be asked to present their Russian or Ukrainian passports in order to cast the ballots, according to the commission in the Russian-occupied region. The polling stations in Zaporizhzhia will open on March 17, reported TASS.

Zaporizhzhia is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia annexed in 2022 but only controls parts of them. In September, Russian authorities held elections in the annexed regions for Russian-installed officials which was denounced by the West and Ukraine as a sham.&nbsp;

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The election will see Russian President Vladimir Putin running virtually unopposed for his fifth term which will keep him in power until 2030.&nbsp;

Last week, the Russian Supreme Court upheld the ruling by electoral authorities barring anti-war candidate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-blocks-anti-putin-campaigner-nadezhdin-from-election-688290">Boris Nadezhdin</a> from contesting in next month’s election.&nbsp;

<h2>G7 leaders won’t recognise elections</h2>

On Saturday (Feb 24) marking the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leaders from G7 nations released a statement saying that they will not recognise the elections held in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-50-of-western-arms-deliveries-dont-arrive-on-time-says-kyiv-693727">Ukraine war: 50% of Western arms deliveries don’t arrive on time, says Kyiv</a>

The leaders of the G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union – called on Russia to “immediately cease its war of aggression and completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine.”&nbsp;

It added, “We will never recognise so-called ‘elections’, past and future, held by Russia in the territories of Ukraine, nor their results.”&nbsp;

The G7 leaders called Russia’s intention to hold votes in occupied Ukrainian territories in the upcoming presidential election, an “outrageous violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Early voting in Russia’s presidential election began in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, reported state news agency TASS, on Sunday (Feb 25) citing a Moscow-appointed local election official.

Early voting in Russia’s presidential election began in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, reported state news agency TASS, on Sunday (Feb 25) citing a Moscow-appointed local election official. Meanwhile, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations said that they will “never recognise” the elections held in the occupied Ukrainian regions. Russian presidential election early voting Early voting for the Russian presidential election kicked off in the Russian-occupied region of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, said Galina Katyushchenko, chairperson of the regional election commission, according to TASS. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine war: EU President says, 'More than ever, we stand firmly by Ukraine' The district election commission members will reportedly go door-to-door in the settlements which are adjacent to the frontline amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with ballot papers and boxes and the residents of these areas and Russian soldiers, will be the first ones to vote. “People who live close to the line of engagement and service members will be the first to vote,” Katyushchenko told reporters, as quoted by TASS. The voters will be asked to present their Russian or Ukrainian passports in order to cast the ballots, according to the commission in the Russian-occupied region. The polling stations in Zaporizhzhia will open on March 17, reported TASS. Zaporizhzhia is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia annexed in 2022 but only controls parts of them. In September, Russian authorities held elections in the annexed regions for Russian-installed officials which was denounced by the West and Ukraine as a sham. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine war: 23-year-old Indian killed in drone strike, was employed by Russia The election will see Russian President Vladimir Putin running virtually unopposed for his fifth term which will keep him in power until 2030. Last week, the Russian Supreme Court upheld the ruling by electoral authorities barring anti-war candidate Boris Nadezhdin from contesting in next month’s election. G7 leaders won’t recognise elections On Saturday (Feb 24) marking the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leaders from G7 nations released a statement saying that they will not recognise the elections held in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. Also Read | Ukraine war: 50% of Western arms deliveries don’t arrive on time, says Kyiv The leaders of the G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union – called on Russia to “immediately cease its war of aggression and completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine.” It added, “We will never recognise so-called ‘elections’, past and future, held by Russia in the territories of Ukraine, nor their results.” The G7 leaders called Russia’s intention to hold votes in occupied Ukrainian territories in the upcoming presidential election, an “outrageous violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty”. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian presidential election: Early voting begins in occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia

Russian President Vladimir Putin's campaign office announced that he has collected more than two million signatures in support of his candidacy in the March presidential election.

Russian presidential elections: Putin gathers over two million re-election signatures