He thanked the citizens who went to the Polling Stations, expressing gratitude in particular to those whom he called warriors on the line of contact, referring to the front line of the war in ukraine. Translation in this connection i would like to translation in this connection i would like to thank translation in this connection i would like to thank first translation in this connection i would like to thank first of translation in this connection i would like to thank first of all, would like to thank first of all, citizens of the russia, we are all one team. All citizens of russia, who have come to the Polling Stations today, and voted. Applause. I want to give special thanks to our soldiers, the people who are fighting along the contact line, and providing for the countrys existence. Of course there are many tasks ahead, but when we are consolidated, and i think this is clear to everyone, who ever might wish to intimidate us, whoever might wish to suppress our will, our conscience
Hello and welcome to newsday. We start with russia, where president putin has hailed his predicted victory in russias president ial election, saying it would allow the country to become stronger. He had been the only serious candidate and now has a 5th term in office, after a landslide 87 of the vote. But there was defiance in the form of large queues at some Polling Stations in russia heeding the call of allies of the late Opposition Leader, Alexei Navalny who urged people to turn out to spoil their ballots or to vote for any other candidate. Mr navalny died suddenly in a penal colony in russia last month. At least 80 protesters were arrested. His widow Yulia Navalnya cast her vote at Russias Embassy in berlin. There were protests held and queues to vote in a number of other countries. In london there was a line a mile long outside the russian embassy. From moscow heres our russia editor steve rosenberg. For Vladimir Putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding
Designed to confirm Vladimir Putin in the presidency. Allies of the late opposition leader, alexei navalny, had called on people to turn out at midday, in moscow and other cities to spoil their ballots or vote for any other candidate. His widow, yulia navalnaya, voted at the Russian Embassy in berlin, having queued there for several hours. As she left, she told reporters she had written navalny on her ballot. Her husband died in an Arctic Penal Colony last month and was barred from standing in this election as well as the president ial vote six years ago. These were the scenes in moscow. Thereve been no protest chants. The authorities warned that activists could be arrested. A Rights Monitoring Group in russia says more than 70 people have been detained. Vladimir putin is certain to win, giving him another six years in power. The kremlin has ensured he faces no credible opponent. There have been demonstrations at russian embassies around the world, including the uk, france, tokyo and