Russia continues its political theater with the latest sham referendum held on June 25 through July 1, with proposed constitutional amendments that open the possibility for President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule – which began when he was appointed as prime minister in 1999 – until 2036.
Andrew Higgins of The New York Times on July 1 called the vote “an elaborate spectacle of public affirmation” that “was vital to [Mr. Putin’s] legitimacy.” (“The Theatrical Method in Putin’s Vote Madness,” The New York Times, July 1, 2020). Early polling results showed that nearly three-quarters of the votes were in favor of the change.