Russian Citizens Protest Putin's Fifth Term in Office Despite Official Assurances of No Impact on Election Results

Novomykolaivka, Kherson region Russian Federation
Russian citizens are protesting the presidential election that is guaranteed to deliver Vladimir Putin his fifth term in office.
The protests occurred on the first day of a three-day voting period across Russia and parts of occupied Ukraine on Friday.
Russian Citizens Protest Putin's Fifth Term in Office Despite Official Assurances of No Impact on Election Results

Russian citizens are protesting the presidential election that is guaranteed to deliver Vladimir Putin his fifth term in office. The protests occurred on the first day of a three-day voting period across Russia and parts of occupied Ukraine on Friday. Officials said that incidents such as pouring dye into ballot boxes, lighting explosives, and attempting arson would have no impact on the election results as Putin is running virtually unopposed. The focus for both protesters and officials is on turnout and the number of legitimate ballots cast in the election.



Confidence

70%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if there are any legitimate concerns about electoral fraud in Russia.

Sources

76%

  • Unique Points
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Accuracy
    • Russian citizens poured dye into ballot boxes
    • Ella Pamfilova described the protesters as scum and said there had been eight attempts at arson
    • Wives of mobilized soldiers attempted to lay flowers outside the Kremlin before being blocked by secret service agents
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the actions of Russian citizens as acts of protest against Putin's election when they are actually attempts to sabotage the voting process and destroy ballots. Secondly, it portrays these actions as punishable by imprisonment which is not accurate according to Russian law. Thirdly, it uses quotes from Ella Pamfilova that describe protesters as 'scum' which is a highly biased statement and does not reflect the diversity of opinions on Putin's election. Fourthly, it presents Navalnaya's call for Western governments to refuse to recognize the outcome of the election as an act of protest against Putin when in reality she was calling for peaceful protests at polling stations. Lastly, it portrays these actions as a referendum on the Ukraine war which is not accurate.
    • Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russia's Election Commission, describes protesters as 'scum'. This statement is deceptive because it presents a highly biased viewpoint that does not reflect the diversity of opinions on Putin's election.
    • The article presents Russian citizens pouring dye into ballot boxes and attempting arson as acts of protest against Putin's election when they are actually attempts to sabotage the voting process and destroy ballots. This statement is deceptive because it misrepresents the true intentions of these individuals.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several examples of logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the incidents would have no impact on the election and that high turnout is seen as beneficial to the Kremlin. This statement implies that there are legitimate concerns about voter fraud or irregularities, but it does not provide any evidence for these claims. Additionally, Ella Pamfilova's description of protesters as 'scum' is an example of inflammatory rhetoric and a form of ad hominem attack. The article also contains examples of dichotomous depictions by describing the election results as either being in favor or against Putin, without providing any nuance or context for these claims.
    • The incidents would have no impact on the election
    • Ella Pamfilova's description of protesters as 'scum'
    • Dichotomous depiction of election results
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

67%

  • Unique Points
    • Ukraine's government has told citizens living in Russian-occupied territories to turn their backs on what they call Moscow’s pseudo elections.
    • Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti ran a report Saturday on its Telegram channel which purported to show a mobile election team setting up in Avdiivka, a town captured by Russian forces last month in an important territorial gain.
  • Accuracy
    • Ukraine appeals to citizens under Russian occupation to ignore Putin’s ‘pseudo elections’
    • Ukrainian officials say intimidation tactics like that are commonplace and are aimed at forcing people to give their vote to Putin.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Russian-occupied territories are under Moscow's control when they have been annexed by Russia and are therefore not part of Ukraine. Secondly, the author states that Putin will be returned as president for six more years when it is widely known that he has already served two terms in office. Thirdly, the article quotes Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti which purports to show a mobile election team setting up in Avdiivka but fails to disclose any evidence of this claim and does not provide context for why Russia would need mobile election teams when they have already annexed Crimea. Fourthly, the article quotes Russian Telegram channels showing other mobile election teams across occupied territories including some which appear to clearly show Russian soldiers accompanying election officials as they go house to house. Fifthly, the article reports that Ukrainian officials say intimidation tactics like these are commonplace and are aimed at forcing people to give their vote to Putin but fails to provide any evidence of this claim.
    • The author claims that Russian-occupied territories are under Moscow's control when they have been annexed by Russia and therefore not part of Ukraine. This is a lie by omission as the article does not disclose that these territories were annexed by Russia.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the government's statement without providing any evidence or context for their position. Additionally, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either citizens participate in Putin's pseudo-elections or they do not vote at all. This oversimplifies complex political situations and ignores other possibilities that may exist. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric when it describes Russian soldiers accompanying election officials as a form of intimidation, without providing any evidence to support this claim.
    • Iryna Vereshchuk said - which meant no one should be helping to organize the polling, campaigning, voting or acting as an observer of the elections
    • Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti ran a report Saturday on its Telegram channel which purported to show a mobile election team setting up in Avdiivka
    • Vladimir Rogov said an improvised explosive device had been detonated outside a building to be used for voting in the port city of Berdiansk
  • Bias (85%)
    The article is biased towards Ukraine and its government's stance on the Russian-occupied territories. The author uses language that dehumanizes Russia and portrays it as a threat to Ukrainian sovereignty. They also use quotes from Ukrainian officials to support their argument, without providing any countering viewpoints or evidence of bias in those quotes.
    • CNN — Ukraine’s government has told citizens living in Russian-occupied territories to turn their backs on what they call Moscow’s pseudo-elections, which culminate on Sunday and are widely assumed to see Vladimir Putin returned as president for six more years.
      • Ukrainian officials say intimidation tactics like that are commonplace and are aimed at forcing people to give their vote to Putin.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      76%

      • Unique Points
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Accuracy
        • Ukrainians in territories occupied by the Russian military are being forced to vote in the Russian presidential election under heavy armed guard.
        • The staging of the election in occupied Ukraine is a violation of international law and Russia was condemned for it at the United Nations on Friday.
        • Vladimir Putin, who has ruled as Russia's supreme political leader since Dec. 31, 1999 repeatedly finding ways to defy term limits to stay in power, is guaranteed to win the election.
        • The forced vote is part of a broader process of Russification in occupied regions including forced curriculum changes in schools and requiring Ukrainians to sign up for Russian passports.
        • In Mariupol, the occupied city on the Azov Sea, voting took place two years after Russia's March 16, 2022 bombing of the city's drama theater which killed hundreds of people despite a huge sign on the ground indicating that civilians were inside. Russian state media showed happy residents at a Mariupol polling station.
        • One woman in occupied Energodar was at her daughter's apartment when she heard a knock on the door and election officials and soldiers demanded to know if she had already voted, despite having no intention of voting.
        • Natalia Petrenko, head of the military administration for Shulhyne an occupied village in Luhansk region said that election officials and soldiers were targeting vulnerable elderly pensioners in house-to-house visits.
        • Halyna who last year fled her home in Kakhovka, an occupied city in southern Kherson region said she spoke this week to her niece who is still there and described two soldiers accompanying a woman with a ballot box going from house to house claiming they were carrying out preliminary voting because of shelling.
        • Successive Russian ballistic missile strikes on Friday hit the southern port city of Odessa killing 21 people including rescuers who had arrived to help after the initial explosion.
        • Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser said in a post that international bodies should no longer recognize Putin's legitimacy and called for Russia's suspension from global institutions.
        • In Berdyansk an occupied Ukrainian city on the Sea of Azov, a 72-year-old woman reached by phone said election officials were going door to door urging people to vote.
        • A 45-year-old woman in Berdyansk who also spoke on the condition of anonymity said three women with a ballot box accompanied by an armed soldier visited her home and others. Those who didn't vote at home have to go vote at the polling station.
      • Deception (95%)
        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the Russian presidential election as a legitimate democratic choice for Ukrainians living under Russian occupation. However, this is clearly false as there are no genuine choices and the election process is heavily manipulated by Russia to maintain its control over these territories. Secondly, the article falsely claims that voting in occupied Ukraine is voluntary when it is clear that people are being forced at gunpoint to vote for Putin. Thirdly, the article presents Russian state media as an unbiased source of information when it clearly promotes propaganda and indoctrination among Ukrainians living under occupation.
        • The election process in occupied Ukraine is heavily manipulated by Russia to maintain its control over these territories.
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article discusses the forced voting of Ukrainians in occupied territories under Russian military control. The author cites examples from various regions and describes how voters are threatened with repercussions if they do not vote for Putin. The author also mentions that Russia has been accused by Ukraine and 55 other nations at the United Nations of violating international law by staging elections in occupied territories. Additionally, the article discusses how Russian state media is used to propaganda and indoctrination children in these regions.
        • The author cites an example from Mariupol where voting took place two years after Russia's March 16, 2022 bombing of the city's drama theater which killed hundreds of people. The Russian state media showed happy residents at a polling station despite the fact that many Ukrainians were forced to vote under threat.
        • The author cites an example from Novomykolaivka village in Kherson region where election officials walked around accompanied by an armed soldier and threatened those who refused to vote with repercussions.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article reports on voting at gunpoint in occupied Ukraine and intimidation of Ukrainians during Putin's election. It also discusses Russian passports for daily life and social payments under occupation, eviction rumors with new rules requiring Russian documents for everything from property titles to drivers licenses, children used as propaganda tools by Russia in the war on Ukraine. The author is a group of five individuals who may have different perspectives or affiliations that could compromise their ability to act objectively and impartially.
        • The article reports on voting at gunpoint in occupied Ukraine and intimidation of Ukrainians during Putin's election.

        62%

        • Unique Points
          • President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia will secure a fifth term as the country's leader in the presidential election this weekend.
          • Many Russians are concerned that an emboldened President Putin may use his win to start a new war mobilization, particularly for fighting in Ukraine.
          • Some Russian voters are considering leaving their country due to fears about what comes next after Putin is re-elected.
          • There is unease among Russians over finances and the economy, including concerns that the ruble might be allowed to depreciate again or higher taxes may be imposed.
          • Opposition activists expect more crackdowns on dissent.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (30%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author presents a false sense of certainty about Putin's re-election when there are no polls or other evidence to support this claim. Secondly, the author uses sensationalism by implying that an emboldened Putin may use his victory to start a new war mobilization and introduce new economic measures after the voting. Thirdly, the article presents quotes from Russian voters without disclosing their sources which is deceptive as it implies they are independent when in fact they could be government operatives or propaganda outlets.
          • The author claims that there is little doubt about Putin's re-election but provides no evidence to support this claim. This statement is false and misleading.
          • The article uses sensationalism by implying that an emboldened Putin may use his victory to start a new war mobilization and introduce new economic measures after the voting. There is no evidence in the article to suggest that such actions will be taken, making this statement deceptive.
        • Fallacies (70%)
          The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Levada Center as a source for information about Russian voters' concerns. This is problematic because the Levada Center has been criticized in the past for its independence and accuracy. Additionally, there are instances where the author presents only one side of an argument without providing any counterarguments or alternative perspectives, which can be seen as biased reporting.
          • The Russian authorities have denied that another mobilization for the war is planned
          • Many Russians worry over finances and the economy. Some Russians worry that the ruble might be allowed to depreciate again, raising the cost of imports.
        • Bias (85%)
          The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by saying 'emboldened President Putin may use a win to start a new war mobilization'. This is an example of religious bias because it implies that the Russian government's actions are motivated solely by religion, rather than political considerations. Additionally, the author mentions concerns about finances and the economy which could be seen as monetary bias.
          • concerns about finances and the economy
            • emboldened President Putin may use a win to start a new war mobilization
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication