Vladimir Putin promises 'democratic' elections after major confession

Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged from seclusion to deliver a speech at the United Russia Party meeting on Sunday.

The president had been engaged in talks with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko for two consecutive nights, with no photographs or media coverage permitted. Speculation mounted that the Minsk strongman was attempting to broker a peace deal in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

This comes as Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s oil refineries and pipelines have sparked fears of fuel shortages across the country. Queues have already begun forming at petrol stations as Russians rush to fill up their vehicles.

“We are going through a difficult period, but it has taught us much,” he confessed.

Putin also touched upon Russia’s forthcoming State Duma elections, scheduled for September.

In a video posted by Clash Report on X, Putin said, translated to English, “Of course, we will defend against any type of outside intervention or attempt to influence our elections.

“I’m sure that there will be open and free competition. Because adhering to these democratic institutions is a guarantee for the strength and security of our nation.”

Russia holds a score of 12 out of 100 from Freedom House, a non-partisan Washington D. C.-based nonprofit that advocates for the defence of democracy worldwide. The organisation reports that the country is “Not Free” and operates under an authoritarian political system with power firmly concentrated in Putin’s hands.

“With subservient courts and security forces, a controlled media environment, and a legislature consisting of a ruling party and pliable opposition factions, the Kremlin manipulates elections and suppresses genuine opposition,” the organisation writes.

Putin himself is not standing for election, having secured his fifth term — which runs for six years — back in 2024.

He also took the opportunity to dispense advice to delegates at the conference on how to secure victory in forthcoming elections.

“You need to spend less time in offices and more time in the field, talking to the people, meeting with folks, and understanding what they think, what they worry about, and test out all kinds of initiatives that you receive from the people through feedback loops,” Putin said, translated to English.