Vladimir Putin was mocked after Kremlin footage showed him squinting and struggling to vote online in Russia’s Duma election, a poll critics say is rigged with anti-war candidates barred and e-voting open to abuse.
Vladimir Putin was seen struggling to vote remotely in an election he “rigged”. Critics queried how the tyrant could aim missiles unleashing nuclear apocalypse as he humiliatingly squinted at the outmoded Windows software on his Kremlin computer.
Official footage showed 73-year-old Putin voting by computer in elections for the Russian parliament – or Duma.
It is a poll in which he has banned all anti-war candidates, notably the Yabloko party. The film showed him awkwardly squinting at his office screen as he cast his ballot online.
Putin was seen using outdated Windows software dating to 2021. Ukrainian TV pundit Dymytro Gordon said: “Judging by his extremely concentrated expression and uncertain movements, the rumours that he does not know how to use a computer seem well founded.”
Others queries why shortsighted Putin failed to wear glasses. One commented: “Is he using a computer for the first time or something?”
Another said: “He’s embarrassed to put his glasses on. Afraid of looking old.”
Nexta outlet remarked: “Judging by the video, the electronic voting process required maximum concentration from the old man.” A comment asked: “How will he cope with pressing the nuclear button if voting is so hard?”
Another asked: “Is the Kremlin grandfather up to it any more?” NeTV tg channel said: “His eyesight is clearly failing him, so he could even have missed the box when trying to tick it.”
There is widespread evidence the election – underway until Sunday – is being rigged. Candidates from the only anti-war party, Yabloko, have been mostly banned.
Voters were pressured to cast their ballots electronically, a system seen as open to abuse, it was claimed. Putin is now 73 and, under Russia’s current rules, he could still be in power for another decade – potentially remaining President until 2036.
Putin has already served more than 18 years as President across two separate stints: first from 2000 to 2008, then from 2012 to the present day. Although he was not President between 2008 and 2012, he remained at the very top of Russian politics, switching roles to become Prime Minister while a close ally held the presidency.
In his first spell in the Kremlin, Putin served two consecutive four-year terms. At the time, Russia’s constitution barred a third consecutive term, so he stepped aside in 2008 and took the role of Prime Minister – widely seen as a move that kept him as the country’s de facto leader.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.