Russian election: Why Putin's fifth term as president was never in doubt - BBC News

Despite the guaranteed result, the Kremlin has been keen to make the election appear legitimate.

1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/Sputnik/AFPImage caption, It was never in doubt but President Putin confirmed he would run during a Kremlin ceremony in DecemberBy Laura Gozzi and Francis ScarrBBC NewsThe Kremlin ensured Vladimir Putin had no credible opponent so it was always certain he would secure a fifth term by a landslide.

It was at a grand military awards ceremony last December that Vladimir Putin, 71, told the Russian public he would stand for the presidency again.

"Now is the time for making decisions. I will be running for the post of president of the Russian Federation," he declared at a Kremlin event last December.

Russia's leader of 24 years had just handed out top honours to soldiers who had taken part in Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

He was chatting with a small group of participants when the commander of a pro-Russian unit in Ukraine's occupied Donetsk region approached him.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68505228

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