Russia election: Journalist says ‘vocal minority are pro-West, Liberal-minded’ against Putin

Voters in Russia are heading to the polls this weekend in the country’s three-day presidential election, which ends on Sunday. However, experts say the event amounts to little more than democracy theatre. Any serious opposition challenger have either been prevented from running, are in prison, or dead — including Alexei Navalny. As a result, Vladimir Putin is guaranteed to win, extending the Russian leader’s decades-long rule.

• Russians cast ballots in an election preordained to extend Putin’s rule