Long lines formed outside voting centers at the Russian embassies in Tokyo and Seoul as Russians prepared to vote in the presidential elections. Reports from RIA News confirm the scenes at the Japanese capital and the South Korean capital, where civic participation was visibly underway across the diplomatic missions.
In Tokyo, more than 70 people were reported to queue at the entrance of the embassy, with 15 people waiting at voting center 8367, the tally described by the same agency. The crowd reflected a sense of civic engagement as residents exercised their right to vote in a foreign country, following the procedures set by the election authority.
Prior to these lines, Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolai Nozdrev had noted that voting activity at the diplomatic mission was robust, underscoring the embassy’s role in facilitating the election process for Russian citizens abroad.
Meanwhile in Seoul, a queue also formed outside the election center at the consular section of the Russian embassy. RIA Novosti reported that the line was progressing steadily and was continually replenished by voters across generations, illustrating broad participation from the Russian community living in or visiting Korea.
Security personnel were present in notable numbers at the Seoul site, with several officers stationed at the entrance and additional officers monitoring the surrounding streets as voters approached the polling area. Such measures reflected standard security protocols observed at foreign-district polling locations to ensure orderly voting operations.
Polls were open from March 15, initiating voting in Russia for the presidential race and including remote voting options. The period for voting was scheduled to extend through March 17, providing multiple windows for eligible voters to cast their ballots.
In this election cycle, four candidates contested the presidency for the first time since 2008. The field included Vladislav Davankov representing New People, Vladimir Putin running with a candidate of his own nomination, Leonid Slutsky of the LDPR, and Nikolai Kharitonov from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. Observers noted the diversity of candidacies and the potential implications for the country’s political landscape.
Analysts also highlighted the possibility that if Putin secures another term, it would mark a fifth presidential tenure for him. Coverage across online outlets, including New Newspapers, provided contemporary reflections on how voting was unfolding on the third day of the nationwide process, including remote participation and on-site voting details as reported at the time.
Earlier official statements had named the participation of Russian citizens in the presidential elections, emphasizing the nationwide and international scope of the process and the ongoing efforts to ensure comprehensive access to the polls for voters abroad, including those stationed in neighboring countries and in regions where Russian communities maintain strong ties.