Inside the Kremlin's party as Putin celebrates election win

NBC News was in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin as he claimed a landslide victory in Russia's presidential election with no true opposition.

MOSCOW — For a few hours, it appeared that Russian President Vladimir Putin would break the habit of 24 years in power and arrive early for his triumphant post-election news conference.

The Kremlin had brought forward the arrival time for journalists at its election night celebration in central Moscow — that it would be a celebration was, of course, never in doubt, given the absence of any true opposition in the stage-managed vote and Putin’s sustained popularity.

But the Russian leader ultimately stayed true to his reputation and didn’t arrive at the event until almost midnight Sunday.

The first indication of Putin’s presence was presidential protection officers running to assume their positions in a cavernous hall next door to the Kremlin.

The security around the Russian leader was so intense that everyone attending, including NBC News, had to be tested for Covid and flu hours earlier. Journalists accredited by the Kremlin were ushered into a room and held back by a temporary barrier. It was removed just before Putin walked in. There were strict instructions not to rush forward, with security hawkishly overlooking the camera crews and reporters.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-election-win-russia-party-kremlin-rcna143818

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