Muhammad Talha

Rupee strengthens as SBP reserves increase by $4 million

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SBP

KARACHI:The money that Pakistan keeps in its bank, called the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), went up by $4 million in just one week. At the same time, the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) got stronger compared to the US dollar. This shows that things are looking better for how much the Pakistani Rupee is worth when traded with the US dollar.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) shared on Thursday that the money it keeps in reserve, called reserves, went up by $4 million, reaching a total of $8.021 billion by the end of the week on March 22, 2024.

The SBP didn’t say exactly where this extra money came from, but experts who work with money in banks said the SBP has been buying more dollars from other banks.

Overall, the country’s reserves, including both the SBP’s and those held by commercial banks, reached $13.427 billion during that same week, with $5.405 billion belonging to commercial banks.

Meanwhile, the value of the Pakistani rupee compared to the US dollar kept getting stronger, reaching Rs278.03 on Thursday in the main bank market. This raised concerns among experts because even though Pakistan doesn’t have a lot of dollars in reserve and has been buying more than it’s selling, the rupee’s value is still holding steady for now.

The government is currently talking with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get the last part of a $3 billion loan deal, which could add more money to the SBP’s reserves. But in April, Pakistan has to pay $1 billion for Euro bonds, which will take away some of the money from the reserves again.

The new finance minister hasn’t announced a plan yet for dealing with the growing foreign debts and paying them back, which is the main reason why Pakistan is spending more money than it’s earning from other countries. It’s estimated that Pakistan will have to pay about $25 billion for these debts in the next financial year, which means the government will need to work hard to get more dollars and might have to sell some of the country’s valuable assets to get them.

CBC on ASAAN accounts

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is helping ASAAN Mobile Accounts (AMAs) customers by making things easier for them. They’ve decided to waive the need for Call Bank Confirmation for a little while.

Here’s what that means: Normally, when you open an AMA, the bank or Microfinance Bank (MFB) has to do something called “Call Back Confirmation” (CBC) within 60 days. But now, they only have to do this within 30 days from when you open your account.

This change is meant to make things smoother for AMA customers, especially women. It allows them to keep using financial services without any hassle, all through a simple digital process.

The SBP is really working hard to get more people included in banking services. They’ve taken many steps to bring in those who are not currently using banks.

Here’s the deal: Banks and Microfinance Banks have to do CBC for all AMA customers whose accounts were opened after May 10, 2023, and haven’t had their biometric verification done yet. This change will come into effect after the temporary waiver ends.

Extended Banking hours

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has made it easier for taxpayers to pay their government duties and taxes by extending banking hours on Saturday and even opening banks on Sunday.

Starting this week, banks will stay open for longer hours on Saturday, until 4:00pm, and will also be open on Sunday. This will help people who find it difficult to visit banks during regular working hours.

To make sure that payments are processed quickly, the SBP has instructed the National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT) to organize special clearings at 4:00pm on both Saturday (March 30) and Sunday (March 31). This means that payments made during these extended hours will be processed on the same day.

To avoid any delays in processing tax receipts, banks have been told to make sure that all government-related payments made during these special hours are promptly attended to. Any payments received during these extended hours will be processed on March 31.

Additionally, banks have been advised to keep their branches open for as long as necessary on both March 30 and 31 to facilitate these special clearings for government transactions organized by the NIFT. This move aims to make it more convenient for taxpayers to fulfill their obligations to the government.

PIA Holding Company approved debt restructuring of Rs 268 billion.

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PIA

ISLAMABAD:Yesterday, the board of the Pakistan International Airline Holding Company agreed to make changes to the way the airline’s debt is managed. They’ve decided to include the airline’s debt of Rs268 billion into the country’s overall debt that the government manages. This decision came after discussions between the Ministry of Finance and commercial banks. What it means is that now, the public, which includes taxpayers, will be responsible for paying off the debts of Pakistan International Airlines. This move shows that the problems with the airline, like inefficiency and mismanagement, will be covered by taxpayers’ money.

In a rush, the new PIA holding company board had its first meeting. They quickly agreed on a plan to deal with the big debt of Rs268 billion. Tariq Bajwa, a former assistant to the Prime Minister, led the meeting. It was a hurried meeting, and the directors joined online without much time to look at the details.

Here’s what they decided: The banks that PIA owes money to will give more time, ten years instead of before. Also, they’ll lower the interest rates from around 23.5% to a maximum of 12%. But if the government doesn’t sell PIA in three years, the banks can change things back to how they were before.

Now, after the board said yes, the government will tell the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) about the plan. The goal is to sell PIA by June 11th, and they might ask for offers as soon as next week. They say this is because taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for PIA’s problems anymore.

So basically, PIA Company is going to split into two parts. One part will have all the debts, like loans from banks, money owed to suppliers, and loans from the government. This part will be managed separately. They’re going to move about Rs650 billion out of the total debt of Rs825 billion to this new company.

The other part of PIA, the one without the debts, will be sold to new investors. This part will be clean and free from all the financial problems.

Now, the tricky part is that the government is taking responsibility for paying the interest on the debts. So, every year, the government will pay about Rs32 billion to the banks for the interest on these debts. They plan to pay off the debt from the money they get by selling the clean part of PIA, or if they can’t do that, they’ll use taxpayer money to pay it off.

A holding company has been set up to deal with PIA’s debts, but it can’t borrow more money. Banks have the first claim on its assets.

Now, the government is taking responsibility for PIA’s debts, totaling Rs268 billion plus Rs18 billion in interest. This deal is effective until the end of December 2023.

This means banks will get more than Rs300 billion in interest payments over ten years, which is more than what they’re owed. It’s estimated that banks will receive a total of Rs573 billion with a 12% interest rate over the next decade.

However, special treatment is given to a $88 million loan taken from NBP and HBL in foreign currency. This decision puts more pressure on the government because of high interest rates and exchange rate risks over the next five years.

Instead of changing a $88 million foreign loan into our own currency (Rupees), the finance ministry kept it in dollars.

Two big banks, NBP and HBL, loaned $88 million to PIA, the airline, with an extra charge added on. They decided that only $53 million of this loan would be changed into Rupees. NBP and HBL will give Rupees to a new company instead. PIA will pay back this $53 million loan plus extra money over five years.

The banks will get guarantees from the government and will have rights to everything the new company owns, except for the Roosevelt Hotel.

If the government doesn’t sell PIA in three years, the banks can change the deal and ask for more interest. They can also say no to any more loans for the new company.

Apart from the foreign loan, many banks have changed the due dates for their loans to PIA.

Putin blames Ukraine and US for Moscow attack

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moscow attack
moscow attack

MOSCOW attack:On Tuesday, the head of Russia’s top security agency said that he thinks Ukraine, as well as the United States and Britain, had a hand in the attack on a concert hall near Moscow. This tragic event resulted in the loss of at least 139 lives.

Ukraine firmly denies any involvement in Friday’s attack, dismissing Russia’s accusations as blatant lies. Britain echoed this sentiment, calling the accusations “utter nonsense.”

Alexander Bortnikov, the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), suggested on television that Islamist radicals, potentially aided by Western intelligence agencies, were behind the attack.

He went further, implying direct involvement of Ukrainian special services, alleging they had assisted in radicalizing individuals in the Middle East.

When questioned by Russian journalists about the involvement of Ukraine, the United States, and Britain in the concert hall attack, Bortnikov stated that they believed this to be the case, although he provided no concrete evidence, only stating it as general information.

Bortnikov, who has been in charge of the FSB since 2008, admitted that they hadn’t identified the specific orchestrators of the attack yet but vowed retaliatory measures. However, he failed to present any evidence to support these claims, leaving room for speculation, especially among hardliners in Moscow who might seek to use this narrative to justify further escalation in Ukraine.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to the Ukrainian president, dismissed the Russian allegations as nothing more than lies, specifically calling out Bortnikov and his predecessor, Patrushev.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also weighed in, labeling Russia’s assertions as baseless nonsense. These statements by Russian officials provide a glimpse into the hawkish stance prevailing within the Kremlin elite.

Israeli operation ranges around major Gaza hospitals

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gaza hospitals
Gaza hospitals

GAZA: On Monday, Israeli soldiers were battling fighters in Gaza, a place that’s been under siege, including near two big Gaza hospitals. This has worried a lot of people about the patients, doctors, and others who are stuck there.

For more than a week now, soldiers and tanks have surrounded Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which is the largest hospital in the area. Recently, they’ve also moved towards Al-Amal Hospital in the main southern city of Khan Yunis.

Israel says its operations are precise and aimed at specific targets, and they claim they’re being careful to avoid hurting civilians. However, aid groups are worried about the people who are caught in the middle of the fighting.

Antonio Guterres, who is the leader of the United Nations, visited the Middle East to see the situation firsthand. He’s begging for the fighting to stop, describing it as a never-ending nightmare for the 2.4 million people who are trapped in Gaza, facing its worst crisis ever.

The United States, which is Israel’s closest ally, is also getting increasingly worried. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on ABC TV, saying that an invasion of Rafah, another area in Gaza, would be a big mistake. When asked if there would be consequences for Israel, she said she’s not ruling out anything.

We are here suffering

In Gaza, a lot of people, mostly women and children, have died because of the fighting. The health ministry said that 32,333 Palestinians have died, and last night, 72 more people were killed.

The Gaza Strip was hit by more than 50 airstrikes, according to the Hamas government. People in northern Gaza are suffering even more because there isn’t enough food and water. In Jabalia, many women and children are waiting in line to get water in jerrycans and buckets.

We’re so hungry that we barely have the strength to fetch water, especially for the kids, women, and elderly,” explained Bassam Mohammed al-Haou.

Falah Saed, another resident, expressed the struggle: “We’re facing severe water shortages because all the pipes and pumps stopped working when the war started.”

Hospital battles

People who live near Al Shifa are going through really tough times. They’re seeing dead bodies on the streets, constant bombing, and men being taken away, stripped down to their underwear, and questioned.

This situation has been happening for eight days now, and about 500 people have been taken by the military. Israel has said they won’t stop until they have caught every last militant. This means they’ll be sticking around Al Shifa for a while, especially since they raided the area back in November too.

The military says they’re doing operations at Al Amal to target terrorist sites and have found dangerous things like explosives and weapons.

Nearby, at Nasser hospital, military vehicles have also surrounded the area, but it’s not clear what’s going on there yet.

Trump wins Lifeline in civil fraud case

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trump wins
trump wins

NEW YORK: Donald Trump wins got some really good news on Monday. A court made a big decision that helped him a lot. They said he didn’t have to pay as much money as they originally thought. Instead of having to pay almost $500 million, they lowered the amount. Plus, they gave him more time to pay it back – 10 extra days.

The Republican candidate running for president, Donald Trump, received some unexpectedly good news about his legal troubles in New York. He was in court for another case about paying hush money to a porn star when he got this news.

Before this, Trump was facing a deadline to pay a large amount of money because a judge said he had committed fraud by inflating his net worth.

He couldn’t come up with the $454 million he was supposed to pay. If he didn’t pay, the state of New York could take parts of his property. But now, after the recent decision, he has an extra 10 days to pay a smaller amount, just $175 million.

Donald Trump, who’s 77 years old and a Republican, started his day dealing with two big legal problems. He was in a court in Manhattan, New York, where they were trying to figure out when his trial would happen.

This trial is about money he paid to a porn star named Stormy Daniels right before the 2016 presidential election. He paid her to keep quiet about a sexual encounter they had.

Trump said this trial is like a witch hunt, meaning he thinks it’s unfair. The trial was supposed to start on Monday, but it got delayed because prosecutors gave lots of new evidence at the last minute. They gave so much evidence that it would take a while for Trump’s lawyers to go through it.

Now, the district attorney in Manhattan said they’re okay with delaying the trial for up to 30 days. But Trump’s lawyers want even more time – at least three months. Meanwhile, Trump said on his Truth Social app that he’ll follow whatever decision the appeals court makes. He might have to put up money or something else as a guarantee.

Gaza protesters, Police clash near red zone

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gaza protesters
gaza protesters

On Sunday, demonstrators from JI and Gaza Bachao Tehreek—Save Gaza Movement—got into a clash with the police while attempting to enter Islamabad’s red-zone. They were protesting the government’s lack of action in response to the devastating situation faced by Palestinians in Gaza, where many are enduring a brutal genocide.

Former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan led a protest on behalf of JI (Jamaat-e-Islami), while Humera Tayyaba represented the Save Gaza Movement.

Mushtaq Ahmad Khan tried negotiating with the Federal Police SSP Abdul Aleem to allow them to proceed towards the red-zone, but the police refused permission, leading to a confrontation.

According to a JI spokesperson, the police used force against peaceful protesters, resulting in injuries to some JI workers. In response, the protesters threw stones at the police.

Afterwards, the protestors staged a sit-in near D-Chowk for six hours and broke their fast on the street. They announced plans for another sit-in at the same location the following Sunday.

During the protest, Humera Tayyaba of the Save Gaza Movement highlighted their aim to pressure Israel globally. She criticized countries like the US, the UK, and some Middle Eastern nations for supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Mushtaq Ahmad Khan emphasized that their movement solely aimed to save Gaza, criticizing the government for hindering their efforts.

He urged the army chief to intervene to protect Palestinians and called for Pakistan to play a role in achieving a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, JI chief Sirajul Haq, speaking in Jaranwala, criticized leaders who he claimed had reached assemblies through electoral fraud, predicting they would soon lose support due to rising inflation, making life difficult for people.

Portuguese GP Sprint Vinales Secures Victory Following Bagnaia’s Mistake

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Vinales

Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales as he celebrated his first-ever sprint victory. The race saw Vinales skillfully maneuvering ahead of his competitors to cross the finish line first, leaving behind the likes of Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin, who secured second and third positions respectively.

The championship leader, Francesco Bagnaia, appeared to have a firm grip on the race, confidently leading the pack. However, with just four laps remaining, Bagnaia made a crucial mistake, allowing Vinales and the other Spanish riders to seize the opportunity and surge ahead.

Marquez’s journey to the podium was particularly noteworthy. Despite starting from the eighth position on the grid, Marquez showcased exceptional riding skills aboard his Gresini Racing Ducati, eventually claiming second place. In a thrilling final lap, Marquez executed a well-timed move, overtaking Martin to secure his spot on the podium alongside Vinales.

It was a remarkable day for Spanish riders, with an all-Spanish podium highlighting their dominance in the race. Vinales, with his maiden sprint victory, undoubtedly left his mark on the Portuguese Grand Prix, setting the stage for further excitement in the upcoming races.

He emphasized the need for focus on the upcoming race but also savored the victory, especially as it marked his first win for Aprilia.
In the race, Jack Miller of Red Bull KTM made a strong start from fifth position, swiftly taking the lead on the opening lap. However, his lead didn’t last long as he was soon caught by the pursuing pack. Francesco Bagnaia managed to move into the lead with 10 laps remaining.

Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, despite starting eighth due to a qualifying crash, showed his determination by setting the fastest lap. He skillfully made his way through the field, eventually settling in behind Bagnaia.

Vinales, despite battling illness just a day before, showed his resilience by securing the second-fastest qualifying time. During the race, he strategically positioned himself between two Ducati riders, shaking up the rankings and pushing Marquez into third place.

As the race progressed, Martin made a move, slipping past Marquez and setting his sights on Vinales. However, everything changed when Bagnaia made a critical mistake, allowing Vinales, Martin, and Marquez to surge ahead.

With clear space ahead, Vinales seized the opportunity and charged into the lead uncontested. Marquez, biding his time, waited for the perfect moment to make his move, ultimately securing second place by overtaking Martin on the final lap.

Despite finishing fourth, Bagnaia managed to maintain a narrow lead in the championship, holding off last year’s runner-up, Martin, by just two points.

Earlier in the qualifying session, Enea Bastianini impressed with his first pole position for Ducati, setting a blistering pace that edged out Vinales and Martin. However, Bagnaia missed out on a front-row start due to Vinales’ late surge in qualifying.

OPPO Reno 11 pro price in Pakistan

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OPPO reno 11 pro price in pakistan
OPPO reno 11 pro

Introducing the OPPO Reno 11 Pro, a new addition to the exciting mid-premium smartphone market in India. This phone stands out for its sleek design and impressive camera capabilities, which are key features of the Reno series. It also offers good performance to complete the package. But the big question is: is it worth its starting price of Rs 39,999? Let’s dive in and see what it brings to the table.

Design

The Pearl White version of the OPPO Reno 11 Pro has a really sleek look to it. It’s not too heavy, weighing just 181 grams, and the curved glass on both the front and back makes it really comfortable to hold and use. The back of the phone has this cool triple-layered glass design that has a satin finish, which helps to keep it looking clean by reducing smudges and fingerprints. However, there’s this camera bump on the top left that sticks out a bit, making the phone wobble a bit when you lay it flat.

The frame of the phone is pretty thin and has all the buttons and ports neatly arranged. You’ll find the power and volume keys on the right side, while the bottom side is where you’ll find the microphone, speakers, SIM tray, and USB-C port. The front of the phone is mostly just screen with really thin bezels all around, giving it a really modern look. One downside though is that it doesn’t have an official IP rating, which means it’s not officially certified as water or dust resistant, something you might expect at this price point.

Display and audio

The OPPO Reno 11 Pro comes with a big, beautiful 6.7-inch screen that’s perfect for watching videos or playing games. It’s super sharp and smooth, thanks to its high refresh rate, making everything look crisp and clear. Plus, the curved design makes it feel really natural to use, especially when you’re navigating with gestures.

The display is also HDR10+ certified, which means that movies and shows will look amazing with vibrant colors and deep contrast. And even when you’re outside in the sun, you’ll still be able to see everything clearly.

When it comes to sound, the OPPO Reno 11 Pro has a speaker that’s really loud and clear. However, it doesn’t have stereo speakers, so you might miss out on that fully immersive audio experience.

Camera

The OPPO Reno 11 Pro has a bunch of cool cameras for snapping photos. There’s a 50-megapixel main camera that’s really steady thanks to optical image stabilization. Then there’s an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera for fitting more into your shots, and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera that’s perfect for portraits. On the front, there’s another 32-megapixel camera for taking selfies.

In good lighting, like during the day, the rear cameras take awesome photos with lots of detail and natural colors. But when it gets dark, the quality drops a bit. Sometimes the photos can look a bit too edited, with colors that seem too bright. The main camera gives vibrant shots, while the ultra-wide one keeps things looking real. Overall, they do well in daylight but struggle at night.

The coolest thing about the camera is the portrait mode. It makes your photos look like they were taken with a fancy DSLR camera, with nice colors and background blur. You can even switch between different zoom levels, but the best results come from 2X zoom.

The front camera is pretty good in daylight too, but it’s not great in low light, even with fancy AI tricks.

Performance and battery

The OPPO Reno 11 Pro is packed with a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chip, along with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This means it runs really fast and smoothly, whether you’re browsing the web, playing games, or multitasking.

You won’t have to worry about running out of battery either, thanks to the large 4600mAh battery. Even with the high refresh rate screen and hours of continuous use, it’ll last you all day. Plus, when it’s time to recharge, the included 80W wired charger can juice it up from zero to full in just half an hour, so you’ll be back up and running in no time.

Software

The OPPO Reno 11 Pro runs on ColorOS 14, which is based on Android 14. While you can delete some of the pre-loaded apps, there’s still some extra stuff, like FinShell Pay, that you can’t get rid of.

Also, there are two versions of some apps, like file manager – Files and My FILES, which can be a bit confusing.

But don’t worry, there are some cool new features in ColorOS 14 to make up for it. One of them is the File Dock, which lets you quickly save images, text, or files and access them across different apps with just a drag-and-drop. To use File Dock, you’ll need to turn on the Smart Sidebar feature first.

Another neat update is the “Smart Touch” feature, which now lets you extract text from images. So, for example, you can take text from a screenshot and paste it right into File Dock. And there’s also “Smart Image Matting,” which makes it easy to select objects in pictures and turn them into transparent images that you can save and share. Just press and hold on any image to activate this feature.

Price in Pakistan

The expected price of the Oppo Reno 11 Pro in Pakistan is around Rs. 134,999. It’s expected to hit the market on March 31, 2024. This version comes with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. You can get it in either Pearl White or Rock Grey colors.

Is the Judiciary’s Stance on PTI Shifting?

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PTI
pti
SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD:After five individuals accused of taking part in the May 9 violence last year were granted bail, a discussion has sparked about whether there’s a hint of change happening within the higher courts regarding PTI.

The ruling party has faced challenges in getting support from higher courts, especially the Supreme Court, while Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa has been in office.

Many of those accused in the May 9 unrest were denied bail, particularly by the Lahore High Court.

A group of top judges, led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, declared that trying civilians in military courts was against the constitution. Most of these judges were aligned with former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

The government contested this ruling, leading to a suspension by another group of judges headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood. They allowed civilian trials in military courts until a final decision was made.

Justice Masood stepped down from the case after objections were raised against him. A new panel of judges is yet to be formed.

However, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail’s Supreme Court bench made significant remarks regarding bail for those involved in the May 9 incidents.

Similarly, Islamabad High Court’s Justice Babar Sattar found the Islamabad deputy commissioner guilty of contempt for repeatedly detaining PTI leader Shehryar Afridi.

Another division of the Islamabad High Court, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, questioned the fairness of Imran Khan’s trial in the cipher case.

Despite government restrictions, the Islamabad High Court permitted PTI lawyers to meet with Imran Khan.

During a full court session at the Lahore High Court, one judge emphasized the need to enhance the court’s reputation.

Female activists from PTI, accused in the May 9 riots, remain in prison. Lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii emphasized the need to restore trust in the judiciary.

He mentioned a decline in the judiciary’s relevance in national politics. Jaferii criticized the top court’s orders being ignored without consequences, stressing the need to rectify this situation.

Another senior lawyer noted the judiciary’s prolonged silence, suggesting it’s losing relevance as other state institutions handle civil liberties matters. With a new government in power, there’s expectation for a change in judicial approach, but the senior lawyer doubts a significant shift.

They highlighted the importance of chief justices challenging the status quo and the composition of benches in handling high-profile cases. Post-elections, there’s less emphasis on cases related to the May 9 riots.

Despite internal PTI conflicts, it’s no longer seen as a major threat to powerful circles, reducing the impact of potential court relief for the party.

Russian Election Putin Secures Landslide Victory, Criticizes US Democracy

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putin

russian election

When election officials announced Putin’s victory with over 87% of the vote, he was quick to tout Russia’s democracy as more transparent than many Western counterparts.

In truth, no credible opposition candidate was permitted to stand against Putin, raising serious questions about the fairness of the election process. The absence of legitimate opposition undermines the very essence of democracy, turning the election into more of a coronation than a competitive race.

The Legacy of Alexei Navalny in the Face of Russia’s Election

 

Despite this lack of genuine opposition, supporters of the late Putin critic Alexei Navalny made their voices heard through symbolic protests. The “Noon against Putin” movement saw crowds gathering in Russian cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as outside numerous embassies abroad. While these demonstrations showcased public dissent, their impact on the election outcome was minimal.

Putin’s reelection highlights the challenges facing democracy in Russia, where the consolidation of power often comes at the expense of political pluralism and genuine competition. As Putin solidifies his grip on power, questions about the true nature of Russian democracy persist, casting a shadow over the legitimacy of his mandate.

Arrests and Incidents
According to monitoring group OVD-Info, around 80 Russians were arrested during the election period. Fortunately, there were no reports of the sporadic attacks on polling stations that occurred on Friday. Despite this, the atmosphere remained tense, with concerns over the fairness of the electoral process looming large.

International Response
Unsurprisingly, Western nations wasted no time in expressing their disapproval of the election. Germany labeled it a “pseudo-election,” criticizing the authoritarian regime’s reliance on censorship, repression, and violence. Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, condemned the election as illegal, especially considering its occurrence on Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian President’s Reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t hold back in his assessment of the situation, asserting that the Russian election was nothing but a facade. Zelensky accused the Russian leadership of orchestrating yet another charade to maintain power and control.

Insights from Dissenting Voices
One particularly poignant perspective comes from Leonid Volkov, an ally of Alexei Navalny. Volkov, who was brutally attacked in exile just days before the election, highlighted the stark disparity between the official results and the reality on the ground. He dismissed the figures presented for Putin’s victory as utterly divorced from truth.

Inside the Russian Election: Behind the Scenes and Amidst Controversy

The recent Russian election has captured global attention, revealing a complex tapestry of events and perspectives. Let’s delve into the details and uncover what really happened.

Extended Voting Periods and Tactics

Russians were given three days to cast their votes, while individuals in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine were granted even more time, a move seemingly aimed at boosting voter turnout. However, reports emerged of concerning incidents, including the tragic death of an election commission official in the occupied town of Berdyansk. Residents in these areas recounted tales of pro-Russian collaborators going door-to-door with ballot boxes, escorted by armed soldiers.

State-Controlled Narratives

Meanwhile, on Russia’s tightly monitored state TV channels, the election results were depicted as a resounding victory. Correspondents painted a picture of overwhelming support and unity around Vladimir Putin, portraying it as a clear message to Western nations. The narrative spun on these channels aimed to project an image of strength and solidarity within Russia.

Putin’s Response and Claims of Advancement

President Putin himself appeared relatively subdued during interactions with reporters. However, he couldn’t resist highlighting what he deemed as Russia’s superior presidential campaign, particularly in comparison to the United States. Putin lauded Russia’s utilization of online voting, a method officials claimed attracted a staggering eight million voters.