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Russia is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, which violated international law, with a pop concert on Red Square in Moscow

Basically, the regime can be celebrated twice: one day after the manipulated so-called “presidential elections

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that confirmed Vladimir Putin in office.

According to the returning officer, the pseudo-voter turnout was a good 74 percent.

This would be a new peak; in terms of domestic policy, it should help Putin's fifth presidency gain legitimacy.

Independent election observers were almost nowhere on site.

According to experts, no presidential election in Russia has been as heavily manipulated as this one.

Natalie Sabanadze, political scientist: »In 2000, Putin won with 52 percent.

Then there is something like a gradual increase in the percentage.

In this election it is definitely the highest.

Putin also calls it an exceptional situation.

While Russia is at war in Ukraine, he is conducting a special operation inside Russia.

After this election victory with 87 percent, I would expect even harsher repression within Russia.

There are said to have been attacks on polling stations in some Russian cities, and security forces took action against Putin's opponents.

In a protest launched by the opposition, people gathered at twelve o'clock in front of hundreds of polling stations for "lunch against Putin."

Here in London, Russian citizens also protested against the Kremlin ruler in numerous cities abroad.

A number of leading international politicians called for consequences.

Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister: “We will introduce sanctions today in view of the death of Alexei Navalny.

At the same time, we must do everything we can to better protect ourselves from this Russia and from Putin himself.

And that we stand firmly on Ukraine’s side with another five billion euros, especially so that Ukraine can defend itself against this brutal Russian war of aggression.”

After the vote, supporters met at Navalny's grave in Moscow and laid flowers.

Observers expect that Putin will use his next six years in office to pursue even more harshly his few remaining domestic critics.

And they fear further foreign policy aggression beyond the war of aggression against Ukraine.

Natalie Sabanadze, political scientist:

»Putin's tactics could change, they will be more long-term oriented.

Of course he will be watching what happens in elections around the world where there are real elections.

He may be waiting for a change of government in Washington.

And then everything is possible that Ukraine is not his only target.

It is NATO, the Western alliance.

And whatever allows him to show the weakness of this alliance, he will try.

But he needs a good moment to do it.”