Russia goes to vote: a political portrait

Russia goes to vote: a political portrait

Stavropol Region, Russia
17 images
Advertisement

Most Russians intending to vote for Vladimir Putin in Sunday's election say stability is at the root of their faith in their candidate - though many young voters believe it's time for a change of leader.

Putin, 65, is expected to win a fourth term in office with 69 percent of the vote, according to the latest survey by a state-run pollster.

Reuters correspondents and photographers who travelled around the country talking to voters ahead of the March 18 election found nothing to contradict expectation of an emphatic Putin victory.

. Yevpatoriya, Ukraine. Reuters/Pavel Rebrov

In Crimea, participating in a Russian presidential election for the first time since the territory was annexed from Ukraine in 2014, engineer Andrei Lukinykh said Putin was the only candidate who could provide stability in tough times.

"As the saying goes, you don't change your horses mid-stream. Unlike the others, my candidate can provide the stability that's needed," Lukinykh said.

. Moscow, Russia. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov
Dyuzheva, 22, supervises the "SUPERPUTIN" exhibition.

For Muscovite student Yulia Dyuzheva, economic progress during Putin's 17 years in office won him her vote.

"As a representative of the younger generation, I can say that for us, young Russians, all the doors are open. Everyone is able to grab the opportunities presented and make the most of themselves, in whatever town or region," Dyuzheva said.

. Moscow, Russia. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

But others believe Russia is ready for a change.

Accountant Natalia Dementieva, also from Moscow, said she was casting a vote for TV personality Ksenia Sobchak - one of seven other candidates - because she supported more freedoms.

"[Sobchak] speaks the truth, openly. She doesn't lie. She raises issues which are taboo under our government."

"The next generation to rule this country were born between 1982 and 1987. There's a lot of them and they don't remember what it was like in the Soviet Union. So they're less afraid."

Sobchak is expected to garner 2 percent of the vote, according to a March 9 poll by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Centre.

. Moscow, Russia. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov
Grigory Kulikovskikh, 26, IT specialist and supporter of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, is calling for a boycott of the upcoming presidential elections. "This is not a country of the future, it’s a country stuck in the past. I can't visualise the future right now," he said. "Most people don't care... They're asleep. They don't care whether it's Putin or Navalny - they need to be woken up. Then change will really happen."

That's less than the 3 percent who plan to stay at home, some of whom may be heeding opposition leader Alexei Navalny's call to boycott the vote after he was barred from being on the ballot.

. St. Petersburg, Russia. Reuters/Anton Vaganov

From the Communist Party, wealthy farm boss Pavel Grudinin, 57, is set for a stronger showing, at 7 percent.

For Alexei Gruk, a mechanic from St Petersburg, voting for the Communist Party sends the signal that things need to change at home, but he wants Russia's foreign policy to stay the same.

"To hell with the sanctions," Gruk said. "So what if they don't bring foreign stuff here anymore? As if that means we have to give in. I don't care."

. Tula, Russia. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov
"There's something of a shift, but I want real changes, which will improve our lives," Svyatoslav Lomakin, 19, student and supporter of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, said. "I want there to be more opportunities for the young, so they can really make the most of their lives."

Nationalist firebrand Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a veteran lawmaker, is expected to garner 5 percent of votes, according to latest polls, while liberal economist Grigory Yavlinsky should receive 1 percent.

1 / 10

Slideshow

Vasily Slonov, 48, artist and supporter of Pavel Grudinin. "I don't think that this will be Putin's final term in office. In fact I see a sort of messianic energy in Putin," he said. "He’s not just any other person, but something of an instrument in God's hands. He's not simply a politician."
. Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Reuters/Ilya Naymushin

Vasily Slonov, 48, artist and supporter of Pavel Grudinin. "I don't think that this will be Putin's final term in office. In fact I see a sort of messianic energy in Putin," he said. "He’s not just any other person, but something of an instrument in God's hands. He's not simply a politician."

Tanzurun Darisyu, 51, supporter of Vladimir Putin and head of a private farm, said: "We, the Arat people, farmers, we need to be able to be confident about what tomorrow will look like. We need this in order to expand and develop our farmsteads."
. Republic Of Tyva, Russia. Reuters/Ilya Naymushin

Tanzurun Darisyu, 51, supporter of Vladimir Putin and head of a private farm, said: "We, the Arat people, farmers, we need to be able to be confident about what tomorrow will look like. We need this in order to expand and develop our farmsteads."

Anastasia Shevchenko, 38, head of the election campaign team for Ksenia Sobchak. "I want change, of course. First of all, in how this country is run. I hope that something will change. That's why I completely support my candidate's programme," she said. "But at the same time, I completely understand that these elections don't decide anything. I just want new people in our politics."
. Rostov-On-Don, Russia. Reuters/Sergey Pivovarov

Anastasia Shevchenko, 38, head of the election campaign team for Ksenia Sobchak. "I want change, of course. First of all, in how this country is run. I hope that something will change. That's why I completely support my candidate's programme," she said. "But at the same time, I completely understand that these elections don't decide anything. I just want new people in our politics."

Vitaly Bespalov, 26, journalist and supporter of Ksenia Sobchak. "I am 26. Eighteen of those years, all of my conscious life, I have lived under a single president," he said. "I have been waiting too long for change."
. St. Petersburg, Russia. Reuters/Anton Vaganov

Vitaly Bespalov, 26, journalist and supporter of Ksenia Sobchak. "I am 26. Eighteen of those years, all of my conscious life, I have lived under a single president," he said. "I have been waiting too long for change."

Maxim Gubsky, 21, student and supporter of Vladimir Zhirinovsky. "I don't expect Putin to change things, and history proves this to be true," he said. "Little has changed over the past twenty years... to see progress in my life, we need a new president, new ambitions and new decisions."
. Stavropol, Russia. Reuters/Eduard Korniyenko

Maxim Gubsky, 21, student and supporter of Vladimir Zhirinovsky. "I don't expect Putin to change things, and history proves this to be true," he said. "Little has changed over the past twenty years... to see progress in my life, we need a new president, new ambitions and new decisions."

Gennady Avdeev, 78, and his wife Lyudmila Avdeeva, 74, pensioners and supporters of Vladimir Zhirinovsky. "The economic difficulties that we see today - the declining quality of life of the majority of our people, the enormous gap between the rich and poor - this is where (the ruling party) is at its most vulnerable," said Avdeev. "Zhirinovsky, on the other hand, speaks out against this way of developing our society, the oligarchic way."
. Moscow, Russia. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Gennady Avdeev, 78, and his wife Lyudmila Avdeeva, 74, pensioners and supporters of Vladimir Zhirinovsky. "The economic difficulties that we see today - the declining quality of life of the majority of our people, the enormous gap between the rich and poor - this is where (the ruling party) is at its most vulnerable," said Avdeev. "Zhirinovsky, on the other hand, speaks out against this way of developing our society, the oligarchic way."

Marina Kalinichenko, 54, a maths teacher and supporter of Vladimir Putin, said: "As Mark Twain said, 'if voting made a difference, they wouldn't let us do it'. I really do support my candidate, but I also realise that it's the oligarchs that truly decide, who becomes president."
. Yevpatoriya, Ukraine. Reuters/Pavel Rebrov

Marina Kalinichenko, 54, a maths teacher and supporter of Vladimir Putin, said: "As Mark Twain said, 'if voting made a difference, they wouldn't let us do it'. I really do support my candidate, but I also realise that it's the oligarchs that truly decide, who becomes president."

Alexander Reshetnyak, 42, Cossack ataman and supporter of Vladimir Putin, said: "Of course, among the candidates right now, in my opinion no one can compete with our current president."
. Stavropol, Russia. Reuters/Eduard Korniyenko

Alexander Reshetnyak, 42, Cossack ataman and supporter of Vladimir Putin, said: "Of course, among the candidates right now, in my opinion no one can compete with our current president."

Vitaly Zubenko, 45, lawyer and supporter of Grigory Yavlinsky. "When the people in power don't change, it's the foundation for corruption, it's what corruption needs to remain undefeated," he said. "We see that for the past four years, real incomes have been falling. A few people might have seen things improve, but overall, the population, the country, business, entrepreneurs, all economic structures, they're just about surviving. Things are getting worse and worse, unfortunately... We have to change the constitution, so that power never again finds itself in the hands of a single person."
. Stavropol, Russia. Reuters/Eduard Korniyenko

Vitaly Zubenko, 45, lawyer and supporter of Grigory Yavlinsky. "When the people in power don't change, it's the foundation for corruption, it's what corruption needs to remain undefeated," he said. "We see that for the past four years, real incomes have been falling. A few people might have seen things improve, but overall, the population, the country, business, entrepreneurs, all economic structures, they're just about surviving. Things are getting worse and worse, unfortunately... We have to change the constitution, so that power never again finds itself in the hands of a single person."

Veronika Baikova, 41, plans to boycott the upcoming presidential election. "Me and my friends will not go to the polling station - we don't believe in this election," she said. "But if I go to the polls, I will vote against everyone and especially against Putin. His policies have not given us anything good over the years".
. Yukhovichi, Belarus. Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko

Veronika Baikova, 41, plans to boycott the upcoming presidential election. "Me and my friends will not go to the polling station - we don't believe in this election," she said. "But if I go to the polls, I will vote against everyone and especially against Putin. His policies have not given us anything good over the years".

More Stories

Back to Top