Vladimir Putin Secures 5th Term , as Russia’s President.<br />On March 18, Russia's Central <br />Election Commission confirmed that <br />Putin won reelection by a landslide.<br />He reportedly received over 87% of the vote.<br />Countries that congratulated him include <br />Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, North Korea, <br />Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.<br />However, critics say that Putin <br />didn't have any credible opposition, <br />and free speech against him was stifled.<br />For example, Alexei Navalny, a fierce opponent of Putin's, died last month in an Arctic prison, and his other critics have either been jailed or exiled, 'USA Today' reports. .<br />For example, Alexei Navalny, a fierce opponent of Putin's, died last month in an Arctic prison, and his other critics have either been jailed or exiled, 'USA Today' reports. .<br />Independent media outlets <br />have also been shuttered. .<br />The elections took place in an <br />ever-shrinking political space, which <br />has resulted in an alarming increase <br />of violations of civil and political rights.., Josep Borrell, the European Union's <br />top foreign policy official, via statement.<br />... and precluded many candidates <br />from running, including all those opposed to <br />Russia’s illegal war of aggression, deprived <br />Russian voters of a real choice and heavily <br />limited their access to accurate information, Josep Borrell, the European Union's <br />top foreign policy official, via statement.<br />The United States referred to the <br />vote as "neither free nor fair," while <br />Germany called it a "pseudo-election.".<br />Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Putin is "sick with power and is doing everything in his power to rule forever.".<br />Putin is currently Russia's "longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin," 'USA Today' reports.
