Putin becomes new constitutional president until 2036

The Russian people have elected Vladimir Putin as the new constitutional president until 2036.

In a referendum on controversial constitutional amendments to extend Vladimir Putin’s rule until 2036, he received more than 70 percent of the vote.

The ad-hoc vote, which did not fulfil legal criteria to be a referendum, saw 77.93% of voters endorse constitutional amendments, with 21.26% against the changes, and 99.9% of the ballots counted.

Turnout was 64.99%, the election commission said.

Due to the epidemic, for the first time in Russia’s history, the voting process lasted for a week and the people exercised their voting right with precautionary measures.

Opponents of Vladimir Putin have accused him of rigging the polls and pressuring voters. Opponents argued that President Putin used large-scale state machinery to campaign in his favor, with the aim of achieving the desired results and eliminating the opposition altogether.