Russian nationals living in Kerala exercised their voting rights for the Russian presidential elections at a designated polling station set up at the Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation, known as the Russian House, in Thiruvananthapuram.
Ratheesh Nair, the Honorary Consul of Russia and Director of the Russian House, expressed appreciation for the cooperation of Russian citizens in Kerala during the polling process. He mentioned that this was the third time they had organized polling for the Russian presidential elections, emphasizing the importance of the event for Russian nationals residing in Kerala and visiting tourists.
Sergey Azurov, Senior Consul General in Chennai, highlighted the significance of providing Russian citizens in India with the opportunity to participate in preliminary voting for the presidential elections.
Ulia, a Russian citizen, expressed gratitude towards the Russian House and the consulate general in India for enabling them to cast their votes in the presidential polls. She emphasized the importance of every citizen’s responsibility to participate in the electoral process.
The presidential elections in Russia are scheduled from March 15 to 17, during which Russian citizens will vote across the country’s 11 time zones. The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Russia approved three candidates to contest against President Vladimir Putin, namely Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov, and Nikolay Kharitonov. However, these candidates are perceived to have pro-Kremlin leanings, suggesting Putin’s reelection is highly likely.
Given the limitations faced by opposition candidates, Putin’s victory appears imminent, potentially extending his rule until 2030, with the possibility of further extension until 2036 following constitutional changes in 2020.