Geoffrey Branger / Photo credit: SEFA KARACAN / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP 11:30 a.m., March 16, 2024

As the presidential election continues in Russia, Europe 1 went to meet Russian expatriates in France.

Many of them say that they will not vote, because of a predetermined vote.

Others even want to demonstrate to show their opposition to the re-election of Vladimir Putin.

This Saturday, the presidential election continues in Russia.

If Vladimir Putin is sure to win, the situation remains tense in the country after arrests and incidents in polling stations.

Despite a vote already decided in advance, the Kremlin wants to give the impression that Russians and inhabitants of the annexed territories of Ukraine came to the polling stations in large numbers.

But in France, what about?

Europe 1 met Russian expatriates in France.

If they too are sometimes afraid to speak publicly about Putin, what do they think of this election?

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What is certain is that the Russians in France will not be numerous to vote this weekend: they do not see the point, the vote being, according to them, a foregone conclusion.

"The conditions of these elections are completely illegitimate. Many Russians expect the government to announce the results it wants. The Kremlin nevertheless wants to give the impression that these elections are legitimate, which is why they are putting puts all this political spectacle on stage", criticizes Dmitri, who lives in Paris after fleeing Russia in October 2022, at the time of the first waves of mobilization in the army.

“We do not agree with this usurpation of power by Putin”

What Russian opponents in France hope is that the international community will reject the results and declare Vladimir Putin illegitimate.

“We are preparing a large demonstration which will take place this Sunday in Paris, at 1 p.m., Place de Colombie, next to the Russian embassy,” announces Olga Prokopieva, president of the Russia Libertés association, a refugee in France since 2012. "The objective will be to show that we do not agree with this usurpation of power by Putin, and that we do not want him to be considered a real President, because he does not represent the true will of the people ."

Another means of protest, all Russians are called to vote tomorrow at noon sharp, an initiative supported by the opposition.

With one objective: to show that there are many anti-Putin people in the population.