Putin, 71, has silenced virtually all dissent through harsh new laws that impose heavy fines or prison on independent voices. Putin praised his troops fighting in Ukraine and promised to make them Russia's new elite. Putin will likely use his predictable victory as proof of overwhelming public support for the war. The Kremlin is set to ramp up its war rhetoric, casting the country as a besieged fortress facing Western aggression. Repression against opposition activists and war critics is likely to expand, with authorities abandoning any semblance of decorum in their ruthless efforts to eradicate signs of dissent.

Source: ABC News March 13, 2024 12:56 UTC