Intimidate or suppress them. As our russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports, in a rare move mr putin also mentioned the opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, by name. For Vladimir Putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding more confident than ever. Translation whoever might want to intimidate us, whoever might want to suppress us, our will and our conscience, they have never been able to do it, and never will. Then, mr putins first Public Comments on the death ofjailed Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny. Translation you may be surprised, but a few days before mr navalny died, some colleagues of mine told me there was an idea to exchange him for certain people in prison in the west. You can believe it or not. I said, i agree, even before he had finished talking. But what happened happened. Election results on russian tv, not a hold your breath moment. The winner, by a mile and a half, Vladimir Putin. What an incredible level of support and unity around the figure of pu
Hello. Fresh from an election victory, that critics say was rigged, Vladimir Putin has been addressing supporters in moscows red square. He has another six year term in office, having already led russia longer than any ruler since stalin. The kremlin says he won more than 87 of the vote. But there was no real opposition, with his main critics either injail, in exile, or dead. So, with such an iron grip on power, why bother with elections at all . Its about claiming legitimacy, say his opponents, for his war in ukraine. Steve rosenberg has the latest, from moscow. Vladimir putin after the landslide came the love. Vladimir putin portrayed by the kremlin as a national hero. At a concert marking ten years since russia annexed crimea. Long live russia, he cried. Cue the National Anthem and some kremlin choreography to make it look as if putin is russia and russia is putin. Earlier we saw the crowds pouring towards red square. Thousands of russians had been given free tickets for the putin e