Russia's Election Marred by Protests and Criticisms of Legitimacy

As voters head to the polls, reports of coercion and lack of fair competition raise concerns over the election's fairness.

Anti-Putin protests and acts of vandalism at voting stations mark Russia's election, with at least nine arrests on the first day.
The election, criticized as neither free nor fair, is expected to extend Putin's rule, making him the longest-serving leader since Stalin.
In occupied Ukrainian regions, residents report being forced to vote for Putin at gunpoint, raising concerns about the election's legitimacy.
A coordinated effort, 'Noon Against Putin,' calls for Russians to protest by showing up at polling stations at noon on the final day of voting.
Western leaders and international observers condemn the election, with no significant independent monitoring allowed.