Putin’s Reign Extends with Fifth Term Victory

News Desk 

Islamabad: Russian President Vladimir Putin has secured his fifth consecutive presidential term, solidifying his grip on power and extending his tenure as the longest-serving leader in Russia’s two-century history, surpassing even Joseph Stalin.

A former lieutenant colonel of the KGB, Putin ascended to the presidency in 1999 and will now remain in office for another six years.

However, the United States has criticized the recent presidential elections in Russia, claiming they were not conducted freely.

According to reports from a foreign news agency, voter turnout in the latest presidential elections reached 67 percent, with Putin winning a landslide victory with 88 percent of the vote, making him the most popular leader in Russian history.

Notably, 96 percent of votes were cast in Chechnya, and over 230,000 voters participated at 230 polling stations worldwide outside of Russia.

Four candidates contested against President Putin during the three-day election, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died under mysterious circumstances while in prison.

The election concluded Sunday after three days, with Putin casting his vote online from Moscow. A candidate needed to secure more than 50 percent of the total votes to win.

In the previous election, Putin garnered 76 percent of the votes, making him the most voted-for Russian leader in the nation’s history.