|
Round The World
New
Delhi, 22 March 2024
Putin Wins 5thTerm
INDIA & WORLD REACT
By Prof. (Dr.) D.K. Giri
(Secretary General, Assn for Democratic Socialism)
The
landslide victory of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in the presidential elections
last Sunday with a historic margin has elicited reactions from across the
world. It appears from the comments by world leaders that Russia’s break with the
West and tilt towards China is almost complete. In the current geo-political
order divided between the West and Russia-China axis, India is trying to remain
non-aligned or in the new parlance, New Delhi is attempting multi-alignment. India
says it will maintain the decades-long strategic ties with Russia whereas, at
the same time, Prime Minister Modi has made new defence link with the United
States and the European countries.
The
fifth consecutive victory of Putin which will keep him as President till 2030
will maintain the current world order marked by antagonism between Sino-Russian
alliance and the Western powers led by USA, and the continuing deaths and
devastation in Ukrainian war. Putin will continue the war with Ukraine and
deepen the contacts with China.
Out of
about 140 million people and 114 million voters, 74.22 per cent voted in the
elections. The nationwide turnout was about 7 per cent higher than the last
elections in 2018 which was 67.5 per cent. Putin got 87.8 per cent of the total
votes which is the highest ever in post-Soviet electoral history. His opponent,
the Communist candidate, Nikolai Kharitanov secured just 4 per cent of the
votes. This is by far the biggest victory any President has had. This will also
enable Putin to overtake Stalin’s term in office for 30 years. Former KGB
agent, Putin has been in office continuously since 1999 as Prime Minister or
President.
As said
before, reactions are clearly divided between Putin’s critics and his allies
and friends. The critics contend that elections were not fair or free.
Substantial candidates did not have a chance to contest. The Election
Commission of Russia did not give the clearance to candidates. For instance,
BozisNadhezdin, an anti-war candidate was barred from running in the elections.
International observers pointed out ballot stuffing and fraudulent counting.
Elections in Russia have just been a ritual.
Many Russian
Missions faced protests against the polls. In Germany, these were led by
YuliaNavalnaya – the wife of late critic of Putin, Alexi Navalny. They were
complaining against mass censorship, persecution of genuine opposition leaders
to Putin’s regime and manipulation of the electoral machinery. World leaders condemned
the polling held in Russian-occupied Ukraine territories annexed during the
war. The Ukraine President called it a crime to hold elections in their
territory.
Let us
scan the reactions; first, those which were congratulatory and supportive.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in X, “Warm congratulations to HE Mr
Vladimir Putin on his election as the President of the Russian Federation. Look
forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested special and
privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia in the years to come.”Likewise,
Chinese President Xi Jinping said that Beijing would maintain close
communication with Moscow to promote the ‘no limits’ partnership they agreed in
2022 just before Russia invaded Ukraine. He added, “I believe that under your
leadership, Russia will certainly be able to achieve greater achievements in
national development and construction”. Recall that India-China-Russia are in
BRICS which challenges US domination of the global economy.
Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered his congratulation on Putin’s decisive
victory. Kremlin said that the two leaders expressed their readiness on
telephone to pursue their ‘effective coordination’ in the OPEC Plus
oil-producing group. The Iranian President EbrahimRaisi, accused by the West of
supplying weapons to Russia, also congratulated Putin. North Korean leader Kim
Jong Un who is also accused of sneaking arms to Russia wished Putin on his
victory. North Korea is said to have shipped 7000 containers of arms to Russia.
This was the accusation by South Korea’s Defence Minister, who said that the
transfer of arms from North Korea began since last July.
The
reactions from Africa came from four countries in the Sahel region – Burkina
Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad. These countries strengthened their ties with Russia
following the coups last year at the cost of their former allies France and the
US. A Burkina Faso daily Aujourd’ hui au fasosaid, “In Africa, the
Russian elections could sound like a non-event. But given the context in Sahel,
it takes on a particular meaning, because Putin embodies the new geo-political
balance of power on the Continent with growing (Russian) presence and influence”.
The
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a strongly worded message said,
“Russian election has no legitimacy. It is clear to everyone in the world that
this person (Putin), like many others throughout history, has become sick for power
and will stop at nothing to rule for forever”.
The US
President Joe Biden had not commented so far. But the White House Spokesperson
Vedant Patel on Sunday said, “Russian election was obviously not free, nor
fair”. Citing repression of the opposition and media he said, “Putin is likely
to remain the President of Russia, but that does not excuse him of his
autocracy”. David Cameron, the former British Prime Minister and the current
Foreign Minister decried the Russian elections which, “starkly underline the
depth of repression under President Putin’s regime which seeks to silence any
opposition to his illegal war”.
The
European Union Foreign Ministers met in Brussels on Monday to formulate their
reactions to the war. They made strong statements but did not heed the request
of Navalny’s widow not to recognise Putin’s new government. They, however,
decided to impose sanctions on individuals linked with the mistreatment and
death of the Kremlin critic Alexi Navalny. The German Foreign Minister said, “Vote
was without choice, demonstrated Putin’s heinous behaviour against his own
people”. France Foreign Minister cited increasing repression of civil societies
and all forms of opposition to the regime. He hailed the courage of Russians
who demonstrated against the election conditions. At the time of writing, 74
Russians were arrested for this. The EU foreign policy chief Josph Borrell said
that the vote was based on repression and intimidation.
The
contrasting reactions from global leaders actually exposed the geo-political
divide that has widened since the Ukrainian war that began two years ago. This
has undoubtedly triggered the deepest crisis in power relations since the Cold
War. India’s position on Russia vis-à-vis the Ukrainian war is by now
well-known and somewhat grudgingly acknowledged by the Western powers. Yet, New
Delhi has neither effectively bridged the gap between Russia and the West, nor did
it offer to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. Even Turkish President Erdogan
while congratulating Putin has offered to facilitate a rapprochement between
Russia and Ukraine.
Foreign
Minister Jaishankar has pointed out more than once that the West is pushing
Russia to China, and may I add India to Russia. If the West took a hard line on
revanchist and expansionist China, it would have been easier for India to
persuade Moscow to distance from Beijing and accommodate the West. The
challenge for diplomacy both for India and the West continues. The West must
make a choice between China and Russia, whereas India tries to bring Russia
closer to the West. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News &
Feature Alliance)
|
Archives 
