Putin Wins Russian Presidential Election with 88% of the Vote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has won the presidential election, securing nearly 88% of the vote, according to official results released late Sunday. This victory solidifies Putin's position as Russia's longest-serving leader, surpassing Josef Stalin.

As per the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Russia, approximately a quarter of the votes have been counted, with Putin leading the race with 87.9%. Exit polls earlier indicated similar trends, with Putin expected to win with 87.8% of the vote.

Putin's main opponent, Nikolay Kharitonov from the Communist Party, is projected to come in second with 4.7% of the vote, followed by Vladislav Davankov of the New People party with 3.6% vote and Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democrats with 2.5% vote.

The election saw symbolic noon protests at polling stations, organized by supporters of the deceased opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Despite this, voter turnout exceeded 2018 levels, reaching over 67.5% nationwide.

Voting took place across Russia's 11 time zones and its 88 federal subjects, including annexed parts of Ukraine. Putin's reelection extends his rule until at least 2030, with constitutional changes in 2020 allowing him to potentially stay in power until 2036, surpassing even Joseph Stalin's tenure.

The outcome of the election solidifies Putin's dominance in Russian politics and underscores his enduring popularity among voters.