The European Union yesterday condemned the atmosphere of repression in which the Russian presidential elections took place, applauded however by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, among other allies, for whom they are proof that Vladimir Putin has "full support" from his town. The contrast between Western reactions, which denounce a simulacrum of democracy, and the rest of the world is nothing more than a reflection of the deep geopolitical division that exists around the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
For the European Union, the elections “took place in a highly restrictive environment exacerbated by Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine” and in “an increasingly reduced political space, which has resulted in an alarming increase in violations of civil and political rights. The declaration of the European Foreign Ministers, meeting in Brussels, warns that the Twenty-seven "do not recognize" the results recorded in the "so-called elections" in the territories occupied by the Russian army in Ukraine.
“It has not been a free or fair scrutiny,” summarized the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, in statements to the press upon his arrival at the meeting, in which the Twenty-Seven approved a new round of sanctions against Moscow for human rights violations in response to the death of opponent Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison, restrictive measures that will affect around thirty people from the Russian security apparatus.
The French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, referred to the Russian presidential elections as “a special electoral operation”, relying on the formula that Putin uses to refer to the invasion of Ukraine, and celebrated the bravery of the Russian citizens who peacefully expressed their opposition to the Kremlin. For the Czech representative Jan Lipavský they were nothing more than “a farce and a parody.” Or, in the words of his German colleague, Annalena Baerbock, “an election without a choice.” Putin is “drunk with power and does everything possible to stay in power forever,” launched the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, while from neighboring Moldova, President Maia Sandu denounced that one cannot talk about elections when all the opponents are out. gambling or in prison.
From other parts of the world, the assessment of the election result, Putin's re-election with 87% of the votes as president, could not be more different. “Under your leadership, Russia will achieve even greater achievements in its development and national construction,” President Xi wished in his congratulatory message to Putin, according to the official Chinese agency. For his part, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, extended his “warm congratulations” and pledged to continue deepening the “strategic relationship” between both countries, while the president of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, whose government is accused of providing of arms to Moscow, congratulated the Russian leader on his “solid victory.”
“Putin has completely won the war against the entire collective empire of the West,” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro proclaimed in a video on social media. “Our older brother Vladimir Putin has triumphed. “They bode well for the world,” he ventured. Similar messages came from Cuba and Bolivia.
Regarding Africa, in recent times Russian influence has only increased in the Sahel through military collaboration with the regimes of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, in parallel with the loss of influence of France and the United States in the region. immersed in the fight against jihadism.
