Russia’s Central Election Commission has signaled concern about the presence of pro‑Western groups at polling stations at scheduled times. This comment came from Ella Pamfilova, the chair of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Russian Federation, as reported by TASS. She indicated that these individuals may not wield broad influence, but their activity aims to demonstrate that there is organized opposition to the regime within Russia, tracking who they are and where they are operating across different regions, and presenting this information to the public.
Pamfilova described efforts by this crowd to assemble around certain dates, anticipating media attention and external cooperation. She explained that foreign media, or outlets with ties to them, are often present to photograph gatherings and opposition activity, with the intention of propagating a narrative about the level of dissent. The CEC pledged to counter such actions with facts, transparency, openness, accuracy, and reliability.
Earlier, Pamfilova warned about measures being prepared abroad that aim to disrupt or obstruct the voting process in Russia’s presidential elections. The Federation Council had scheduled the presidential elections to take place on March 15, 16, and 17. Polling sites were planned to operate from 08:00 to 20:00 on each of those days, with online voting available from 08:00 on March 15 to 20:00 on March 17.
For the first time since 2008, the electoral landscape featured four candidates vying for the presidency: Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, Vladimir Putin running as a candidate, Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Nikolai Kharitonov representing the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. If Putin secures victory, it would mark a fifth presidential term for him.
Pamfilova also commented on attempts to discredit the presidential election by alleging involvement of foreign intelligence agencies. She referenced claims about influence from the CIA and MI6, noting that such assertions are part of a broader narrative surrounding the integrity and conduct of Russia’s electoral process.