Why Russia’s presidential election doesn’t matter

Russia is holding itsthis weekend, and we already know who will win.

Vladimir Putin has been in power since 2000 and is set to be confirmed for another six-year term as President.

Here’s why the outcome of thisis already clear.

Russian elections

While Russian elections may appear legitimate to outsiders, experts argue the outcomes are pre-determined. The control and power of Putin and his government means no opponents have been successful.

Since the Russian President came to power, several opposition leaders have died, including Alexei Navalny.

Navalny was a prominent critic of Putin’s regime, but was blocked from running for office on charges of corruption that were widely viewed as politically motivated. He died at a Siberian prison colony last month.

Putin in power

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In the late 1990s, Putin was promoted from the head of the Russian security agency to Prime Minister under President Boris Yeltsin.

Yeltsin, who had been in poor health for years, resigned in 1999, making Putin the President. He hasn’t lost an election since.

In 2020, Russia held a referendum to change its rules around how many six-year terms its Presidents can serve. It gave Putin the green light to serve two more terms, extending his rule until 2036. International observers didn’t consider the referendum legitimate.