Vladmir Putin will serve a fourth term as Russian president. Officially his vote share in an election in which strong opposition had not been allowed was put at more than 76%.
Responding to the result, European Green Party co-chairs Reinhard Bütikofer and Monica Frassoni said:
“Let’s not kid ourselves about the seriousness of these so-called elections that were neither free, nor fair. Any real opposition to Putin was crushed in its infancy and what remained was not credible.
The end–result is another six years of autocratic leadership on Europe’s doorstep and the potential for the further degradation of relations between Russia and the West.
There are many reasons to fear that President Putin will continue a foreign policy that creates tensions and conflict. For this reason, the EU member states must show unity and strategic clarity vis-à-vis Russia.”
