On Red Square

Putin celebrates election victory and annexation of Crimea in Moscow

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin threw a huge party in the center of Moscow.(Bild: AFP)

Following the presidential election in Russia, which was criticized as a farce and where lies and fraud were the order of the day, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin celebrated his victory and the tenth anniversary of the annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in pompous style.

"Congratulations on the holiday. Long live Russia!", Putin shouted on Monday evening on Red Square in the capital in front of thousands of people who cheered and waved Russian flags. State television broadcast the performance, which was preceded by concerts by artists loyal to the Kremlin.

The 71-year-old Putin, who has been in power for around a quarter of a century, also brought his three opposing candidates Nikolai Kharitonov, Vladislav Davankov and Leonid Sluzki on stage, who were considered to have no chance in the election from the outset and were also clearly on the Kremlin line.

A large number of police officers and fences ensured order.(Bild: APA/AFP/NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA)

(Bild: APA/AFP/NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA)

With a view to the referendum in 2014, which had sealed the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea by Moscow in violation of international law, the communist Kharitonov praised Putin for "bringing Crimea home". The liberal Davankov assured that he would never forget "the feeling of pride for my country and my president". Putin, who has been waging a large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine for more than two years, was also celebrated for the partial conquest and annexation of the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia.

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Erdogan congratulates Putin
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on his re-election on Monday. In a telephone conversation, Erdogan expressed his conviction that "the positive development of relations between Turkey and Russia will continue", according to the Turkish presidency. At the same time, Turkey is prepared to "take on a mediating role in order to return to the negotiating table with Ukraine".

This is not the first time that Erdogan has offered to mediate in the war between Russia and Ukraine. He is trying to maintain good relations with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Coercion and fraud at the polls
In the presidential election, which ran from Friday to Sunday and was classified as undemocratic by observers, Putin was ultimately awarded a record result of more than 87 percent, thus securing himself a fifth term in office. Genuine members of the opposition were not allowed to stand as candidates. Independent election observers also complained that the ballot was characterized by propaganda, coercion and fraud.