In Paris there was a large queue of people who wanted to vote in the Russian presidential elections

During the Russian presidential elections, held in Paris at polling station No. 8308 at the Russian Embassy from 8:00 to 20:00, a huge queue lined up. A Kommersant correspondent in Paris has not seen one like this at any vote since 2012. People stood around the embassy quarter, waiting to be allowed to vote. The queue length reached 500-600 meters. Those who arrived at 11:30 were able to be at the ballot box at 15:00; those who arrived later had to stand even longer.

In the cold weather and rain, people showed no signs of impatience. “This is probably the most pleasant line I’ve ever stood in,” said one of those waiting. “I wish I didn’t give birth right there,” another woman laughed. The polite embassy staff, I hope, let her skip the line.

Unlike previous elections, this time they were allowed into the territory in small parties, 5-10 people each, and filming in the hall, as well as mobile phones, was strictly prohibited. They had to be handed over to security. As the embassy explained, this was done “in accordance with the Federal Law “On Combating Terrorism” dated March 6, 2006 N 35-FZ.” There were no noticeable observers in the hall, but voting proceeded without visible delays or incidents. Observers from the organization “Vote Abroad” collected exit poll data, but as of 20:00 Paris time (22:00 Moscow time), no results had yet appeared on their website.

After processing 60.01% of the protocols based on the results of voting in the presidential elections in Russia, Vladimir Putin (self-nominated) gains 87.26% of the votes, Nikolai Kharitonov (Communist Party of the Russian Federation) – 4.18%, Vladislav Davankov (New People) – 3.99% , Leonid Slutsky (LDPR) – 3.12%, follows from the data of the Central Election Commission. The overall turnout was 74.22%.

Turnout, vote counting and preliminary election results – in material “Ъ”.

Alexey Tarkhanov