Russians Protest Against Putin on Election Day, In Pictures

The Russian opposition, including allies of Alexei Navalny, called on people to head to the polls on March 17, 2024, at noon, in large numbers to overwhelm polling stations, in a protest that they hope will be a legal show of strength against President Vladimir Putin.

Image: People queue outside a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Moscow on March 17, 2024.

Moscow authorities threatened criminal charges against those who take part in election-day rallies, pointing to Article 141 of the Criminal Code, the obstruction of elections or citizens' electoral rights, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Image: People stand in line at a polling station in Moscow.

The Kremlin is seeking to use the presidential election to demonstrate that all Russians support Putin and the war in Ukraine.

Image: Voters outside a polling station in Moscow.

People queue outside a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Saint Petersburg on March 17, 2024.

“Well done, I didn’t expect so many people,” said one Muscovite told The Moscow Times reflecting on the scale of the opposition movement in Russia.

Putin, who has led Russia for 24 years, is expected to win his fifth term when the polls close on Sunday evening, making him the longest-ruling Russian leader since Catherine the Great.
Image: People wait to enter a polling station in Novosibirsk.

Running against Putin are Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), and Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party.

Despite their differences, all these candidates are widely perceived as backed by the Kremlin.

Image: People line up to vote against Putin in Yekaterinburg.

Image: People stand in line at a polling station in Moscow.

Voting in the 2024 election took place over three days, with early voting taking place for two weeks in remote regions of Russia and occupied Ukraine.

Image: Russians wait to vote in Yekaterinburg.

Experts have warned that this extended period of voting makes it easier for fraud to take place, as it makes it harder for independent observers to spot irregularities.

Image: Residents of St. Petersburg outside a polling station.

Some Russians working for the government and state companies appeared to have been pressured to vote and asked to come to the polling stations on the first day of the election to demonstrate a high turnout — which is a violation of Russia’s election law.

Image: Voters outside a polling station in Moscow.

The wife of a mobilized soldier told The Moscow Times she was warned by the authorities that promoting the protest could constitute “extremist activity."

Image: Moscovites standing in the snow while waiting to vote.

The woman said Russians had to go to the polls "to ensure that our voice, the voice of every citizen of the Russian Federation, is used to the maximum in a form that corresponds to the will of a person, and not in a form in which it is convenient for the authorities.”

Image: Voters line up in St. Petersburg.

Activists in regions of Russia outside major cities said fewer people took part in the protest.

Image: Outside a polling station in Moscow.