Presidential Elections in Russia: Past, Present, Putin

On March 17, Putin is set to be elected president of Russia for yet another six years in office, despite launching a devastating war against Ukraine and letting opposition politician Alexei Navalny die in prison.

Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has ruled the country in an increasingly authoritarian way. Elections in Russia have since become a farce, a kind of political theatre or circus that has little to do with democracy. How did this come about? When was democracy lost in Russia — or was it perhaps an empty letter from the very start? What purposes do elections serve in Russia's political system if not the election of the country's leaders?

In a joint event, the International Institute of Social History and The Moscow Times reflected on Russia's presidential elections, past, present and future.

With presentations by IISH researcher Gijs Kessler and TV Rain presenter Mikhail Fishman, followed by a panel discussion with Moscow Times editor-in-chief Samantha Berkhead, Moscow Times publisher Alexander Gubsky, and Free Russia NL board member Kristina Petrasova.

This lecture at the International Institute of Social History is part of a series of talks by media professionals and experts on Russia organized by The Moscow Times at leading universities and research centers around the world.