WDYM 'not free and fair'? Citizens could vote for any of the names on the ballot.
The fact that the ballots only had one name on them isn't relevant...
They actually had 3 others than Putin but they were only the candidates who would never have a chance.
Vladislav Davankov, New People Party
Leonid Slutsky (lol), Liberal Democratic Party
Nikolay Kharitonov, Communist Party
Boris Nadezhdin was initially also allowed to run on an anti-war platform for the Civic Initiative party, but was then later disqualified (perhaps he was getting too much support?).
They should have voted for Slutsky
Sadly, I think that would just have meant 'no more Slutsky'.
All three were slutskies. At least he is honest about it.
At the point where Putin can quite easily have any popular opposition stricken from the ballot, imprisoned, or worse still coincidentally fall from a building or endure some "freak accident", is there all that much use in pretending any opposition ever had a chance to win?
WDYM 'not free and fair'? Citizens could vote for any of the names on the ballot.
The fact that the ballots only had one name on them isn't relevant...
They actually had 3 others than Putin but they were only the candidates who would never have a chance.
Boris Nadezhdin was initially also allowed to run on an anti-war platform for the Civic Initiative party, but was then later disqualified (perhaps he was getting too much support?).
They should have voted for Slutsky
Sadly, I think that would just have meant 'no more Slutsky'.
All three were slutskies. At least he is honest about it.
At the point where Putin can quite easily have any popular opposition stricken from the ballot, imprisoned, or worse still coincidentally fall from a building or endure some "freak accident", is there all that much use in pretending any opposition ever had a chance to win?