Putin Sees Disastrous Start to Presidential Election

The beginning of Russia's three-day election weekend was marred by protests, military conflict and reported cyber attacks as President Vladimir Putin is all but certain to be elected to serve another six-year term.

Moscow officials were once again accused by Western officials and Russian adversaries of tipping the country's presidential election in Putin's favor ahead of polls opening on Friday. Several of Putin's challengers were running campaigns from behind bars or were blocked from appearing on the presidential ballot. If things continue to go as planned for Putin, due to a law he signed in 2021, the Kremlin leader could stay in power until 2036.

Arrests were made at several polling stations Friday after protesters poured dye into ballot boxes in Moscow, Crimea and the Karachayevo-Cherkessia region, according to Russian media reports. One of such instances was captured on camera and shared to X, formerly Twitter, by Washington Post Moscow bureau chief Robyn Dixon. The footage shows a woman pour a dark-colored dye into a ballot box at an unspecified polling location, and she is almost immediately detained by a law enforcement officer.