Some pictures live from a Polling Station in moscow. Now, there is the potential for a run off vote if no candidate wins more than 50 in the first round. But with many of mr putins opponents unable to run, it seems inevitable that Vladimir Putin will be re elected without the need for that second ballot. Our russia editor, steve rosenberg, is following developments in moscow. Vladimir putin has been in power a long time, right, 25 years almost as president or Prime Minister. And hes expected to win a fifth president ial term. Now, this whole event, this three day event, which starts today, is being presented by the russian authorities almost as a celebration of democracy. The kremlin just a few days ago described russian democracy as the best democracy in the world. Critics of the kremlin would disagree and would say that this poll is neither free nor fair nor transparent. Vladimir putin does not face a major challenge. There are three other candidates on the ballot paper, but his most
Left cyprus three days ago and is carrying 200 tonnes of food supplied by an american ngo. Teams from the ngo in gaza have built a floating jetty to unload the cargo. Food and basic supplies are desperately needed in gaza, and the Israeli Police force is deploying thousands of officers acrossjerusalems old city for ramadan s first friday prayers at the al aqsa mosque, with tensions high amid the war. Lets go live now to anna foster at damascus gate. Welcome to eastjerusalem, this is damascus gate, you are talking about the first friday prayers of ramadan which have passed peacefully. There was really tight security, all the streets were closed by Israeli Soldiers and police. They were only allowing worshippers from certain demographics, there was nobody here between the ages of ten and 50. A huge number of people come here for the first friday prayers and we have seenin the first friday prayers and we have seen in previous years violent clashes in this area and because of that addition
If no candidate wins more than 50 in the first round. But with many of mr putins opponents unable to run, it seems inevitable that Vladimir Putin will be re elected without the need for that second ballot. Our russia editor, steve rosenberg, is following developments in moscow. Vladimir putin has been in power a long time, right, 25 years almost as president or Prime Minister. And hes expected to win a fifth president ial term. Now, this whole event, this three day event, which starts today, is being presented by the russian authorities almost as a celebration of democracy. The kremlin just a few days ago described russian democracy as the best democracy in the world. Critics of the kremlin would disagree and would say that this poll is neither free nor fair nor transparent. Vladimir putin does not face a major challenge. There are three other candidates on the ballot paper, but his most vocal critics, his fiercest opponents, are either in exile or in prison, which kind of helps you to
Have been several incidents like this. Take a look at this one, this is a small fire in a different Polling Station here. This isjust the first day three days of voting. First lets look at the contenders also on ballot. They havent criticsed putin and they havent got a realistic chance of winning. Nikolay kharitonov of the Communist Party a political veteran. Vladislav davankov of the new people party former businessperson, relative newcomer. Leonid slutsky of the right wing, nationalist liberal democratic party. Remember putins main opposition figure, alexei navalny, died last month in a russian prison. His team have asked supporters to come out and demonstrate at Polling Stations on sunday. Here are the details of the days vote with our russia editor steve rosenberg. Russias democracy is the best in the world, the kremlin says. And at Polling Station 38 in moscow, we found a choice of candidates and plenty of voters. Democracy in action, right . Not quite. Realistically, only one man
Pictures are from vladivostock. And lets bring you some pictures live from a Polling Station in moscow. Now, there is the potential for a run off vote if no candidate wins more than 50 in the first round. But, with many of mr putins opponents unable to run, it seems inevitable that Vladimir Putin will be re elected, without the need for that second ballot. Our russia editor, Steve Rosenberg has more on the issues surrounding this election. These days, when Vladimir Ovchinnikov paints russia, the result is very dark. From a mountain of skulls and a dictators ambition. To this russias war in ukraine likened to stalins terror. The 86 year old artist had taken his anti war message onto the streets of borovsk, graffiti ing, stop the war. All these paintings were scrubbed out and vladimir fined twice for discrediting the russian army. But he continues to speak out against the invasion of ukraine. Translation i believe that this is a crime against the territorial i integrity of a neighbouring