Russian election latest: Putin claims landslide win as West condemns 'pseudo-election'

Russian election latest: Putin claims landslide win as West condemns 'pseudo-election' Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed a landslide victory in the country's election, as the West condemned what it called a "pseudo-election" due to the lack of credible opposition candidates. No credible opposition candidate was allowed to stand in the vote, which could see Putin remain in power until 2030. The election, which took place over three days, had been marred by allegations of voter coercion and ballot stuffing. Despite these concerns, Putin declared victory, stating that the Russian people had chosen him as their leader once again. His victory comes as no surprise, as he has maintained a firm grip on power in Russia for over two decades. However, the international community has criticized the election, with the European Union describing it as a "pseudo-election" and the United States labeling it as "neither free nor fair." Western leaders have expressed concerns over the lack of genuine political competition and the restrictions on free speech and assembly in Russia. Many opposition figures were barred from running in the election, with several prominent critics of Putin either imprisoned or forced into exile. This lack of opposition has raised questions about the legitimacy of the vote and calls into question the credibility of Putin's win. The opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a staunch critic of Putin, was among those barred from running. Navalny has played a crucial role in galvanizing the Russian opposition movement and has been a vocal advocate for political change in the country