2018 Russian presidential election

2018 Russian presidential election
Election name	2018 Russian presidential election
Country	Russia
Type	presidential
Previous election	2012 Russian presidential election
Previous year	2012
Next election	2024 Russian presidential election
Next year	2024
Election date	18 March 2018
Turnout	67.54%
Nominee1	Vladimir Putin
Party1	United Russia
Popular vote1	56,430,712
Percentage1	76.69%
Nominee2	Pavel Grudinin
Party2	Communist Party of the Russian Federation
Popular vote2	5,941,055
Percentage2	11.77%

2018 Russian presidential election The 2018 Russian presidential election was held on 18 March 2018, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. Incumbent Vladimir Putin sought and won a fourth presidential term amid mobilization by United Russia, opposition activity by the Yabloko and A Just Russia parties, and international scrutiny from institutions including the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and foreign governments such as the United States and European Union. The vote produced a large plurality for Putin and sparked debates involving figures such as Alexei Navalny, Pavel Grudinin, Ksenia Sobchak, and commentators from Kremlinology and Western think tanks like the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Background

The election followed the end of the third term of Vladimir Putin after the 2012 Russian presidential election and came during a period marked by the Russo-Ukrainian War, sanctions imposed by the United States Department of the Treasury and the European Commission, and diplomatic tensions exemplified by the Skripal poisoning affair in United Kingdom. Domestic politics featured maneuvering among parties such as United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and A Just Russia. Economic conditions involved responses to oil price fluctuations monitored by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and fiscal policy debates in the State Duma. Media landscapes included outlets like RT (TV network), Channel One Russia, Novaya Gazeta, and international coverage by the BBC and The New York Times.

Candidates and nominations

Potential and declared candidates emerged from regional administrations including the Moscow Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, and the Republic of Tatarstan. The Central Election Commission of Russia oversaw registration and signature collection. Prominent registered candidates included incumbent Vladimir Putin (nominated by United Russia), Pavel Grudinin (nominated by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation), Vladimir Zhirinovsky (nominated by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia), Ksenia Sobchak (nominated by the Civic Initiative (Russia)), Grigory Yavlinsky (nominated by Yabloko), Maxim Suraykin (nominated by Communists of Russia), and Boris Titov (nominated by Party of Growth). Opposition figure Alexei Navalny was barred from running due to a prior conviction challenged by his supporters and referenced in appeals to the European Court of Human Rights and statements by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Campaign

Campaign activities involved rallies in cities including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Sochi, televised debates on channels such as Russia-1 and Channel One Russia, and social media use across platforms like VKontakte, Instagram, and YouTube. Campaign themes included foreign policy toward Ukraine, the Syrian Civil War, relations with NATO, and domestic initiatives addressing infrastructure in the Far East, pension reform debates in the State Duma, and regional development in Siberia. Campaign finance disclosures were filed with the Central Election Commission of Russia and scrutinized by investigative outlets including The Insider and Bellingcat. International observers from entities such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe publicly announced limited access, while delegations from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and governments like China and Belarus monitored proceedings.

Conduct and controversies

Allegations of administrative resource use, media bias involving RTR (Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Company), and voter pressure in regions such as Dagestan and Chechnya were raised by domestic NGOs including Golos and international organizations like Human Rights Watch. Reports of irregularities referenced practices such as carousel voting and ballot-box stuffing in entries logged by local election monitors and civil society groups. The exclusion of Alexei Navalny and subsequent calls for boycott were linked to protests in Moscow Oblast and legal actions in the Moscow City Court. Cybersecurity concerns cited past incidents involving the Internet Research Agency and warned of interference paralleling discussions in the United States Department of Justice. Sanctions policy by the United States and European Union colored the international reaction to the electoral process.

Results

Official tallies released by the Central Election Commission of Russia recorded a victory for Vladimir Putin with approximately 76.69% of the vote and turnout near 67.54%, while Pavel Grudinin received about 11.77%. Other candidates, including Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Ksenia Sobchak, Grigory Yavlinsky, Boris Titov, and Maxim Suraykin, received smaller shares. Results varied regionally with high turnout and margins reported in the Chechen Republic and Dagestan, and comparatively lower support in parts of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. International reactions ranged from congratulatory statements by leaders of China and Belarus to critiques from officials in the United States and the European Union and commentary from think tanks such as the International Crisis Group.

Aftermath and analysis

After the election, Vladimir Putin was inaugurated for a fourth term and continued policies relating to the Russo-Ukrainian War and Syrian Civil War, while domestic debates persisted over political pluralism, media freedom, and civil liberties examined by Amnesty International and the European Court of Human Rights. Academic analysis from institutions including the Carnegie Moscow Center, Chatham House, and the Brookings Institution assessed implications for Russian domestic politics, elite cohesion among actors like the Security Council of Russia, and foreign policy toward entities such as NATO and the European Union. Opposition movements, legal challenges in courts including the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, and subsequent regional elections reflected ongoing political dynamics leading up to the 2021 Russian legislative election and the next presidential contest.

Category:Presidential elections in Russia Category:2018 elections Category:Vladimir Putin