Intimidate or suppress them. As our russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports, in a rare move mr putin also mentioned the opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, by name. For Vladimir Putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding more confident than ever. Translation whoever might want to intimidate us, whoever might want to suppress us, our will and our conscience, they have never been able to do it, and never will. Then, mr putins first Public Comments on the death ofjailed Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny. Translation you may be surprised, but a few days before mr navalny died, some colleagues of mine told me there was an idea to exchange him for certain people in prison in the west. You can believe it or not. I said, i agree, even before he had finished talking. But what happened happened. Election results on russian tv, not a hold your breath moment. The winner, by a mile and a half, Vladimir Putin. What an incredible level of support and unity around the figure of pu
Has been pretty predictable. There was this joint statement in which they say the russian people were denied any real choice in the vote that took place over the past three days. We heard from the veteran spanish diplomat saying that the Russian Election was characterised by repression and intimidation. One thing the eu has not done which the widow of Alexei Navalny wanted to happen, she wanted european leaders to come out and say President Putin does not have any legitimacy and he wanted brussels not to recognise this victory. That hasnt happened today but as you have been saying they are looking at more sanctions and we understand that the sanctions being talked about today and potentially agreed would affect people within the Prison System in russia, specifically those who work at the penal colony in the arctic where Alexei Navalny was being held and where he died last month. There have been talks and where he died last month. There have been talks about and where he died last month
There is some mist and fog and a few showers around this morning. They will give way to a dry and decent with sunny spells. Later, some rain in Northern Ireland. Details coming up. Good morning. Its monday, 18th march. Vladimir putin has claimed victory in russias president ial election. Without any serious opposition, a fifth term was seen as inevitable. At least 80 protestors have been arrested across the country for vandalising Polling Stations. Foreign secretary David Cameron hasjoined other western governments in shunning the result. He said, this is not what free and Fair Elections look like. Our russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports. Foeradimir putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding more confident than ever. Translation whoever might | want to intimidate us, whoever might want to suppress us, our will and our conscience, they have never been able to do it, and never will. Then, mr putins first Public Comments on the death ofjailed Opposition Leader A