An election in Russia that is certain to see Vladimir Putin reelected for a sixth term has been deemed not 'free or fair,' by the EU and NATO on Thursday, mainly due to the Kremlin and its successful efforts in removing all opposition.
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of deceased number one Kremlin enemy Alexei Navalny, is urging the West not to recognize the results of the Russian presidential election, set to begin Friday.
"We know, given the track record of how votes are being prepared and organized in Russia under the current Kremlin administration and regime, how this will look like," said European Union spokesman Peter Stano.
"It's very difficult to foresee that this would be a free, fair, and democratic election where the Russian people would really have a choice."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated the ballot "in Russia will not be free and fair."
"We know already that opposition politicians are in jail, some are killed, and many are in exile, and actually also some who tried to register as candidates have been denied that right," he said.
"There is no free and independent press in Russia."
The election consists of a three-day vote despite President Putin's rigged victory. The expected win follows Putin's invasion of Ukraine and now obsolete ties between Moscow and the West.
The European Union and NATO have both condemned Russia's move to facilitate votes in areas of Ukraine currently occupied by its soldiers and claimed as its territory, according to Barron's.
"Russia's attempts to organize any part of an election in occupied regions of Ukraine are completely illegal, violating international law," Stoltenberg said.
Stano also said the ballot in those regions "is not being recognized and it will not be recognized by the European Union."
With no real opposition on the ballot, Putin's win in the March 15-17 contest will allow him to remain in the Kremlin until at least 2030, proving longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century.
He faces off against three pre-approved candidates by the Kremlin that are from political parties loyal to him and his policies.
