Ukrainian President Zelensky Calls Russia's Election An Illegal 'Tiruan'

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to rule forever, assessing Russia's presidential election as an illegitimate clone.

In a late-night video address President Zelensky said, "Russia's dictatorship is conducting another election simulation," and that Putin was "haust of power and did everything to rule forever."

"There is no legitimacy in this false election and it is impossible. This person should be tried in The Hague. That's what we have to make sure," he added.

Last week, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry also criticized the Russian elections. Russia held a general election on March 15-17. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said the Russian elections in occupied Ukrainian territories were illegal and illegitimate, urging international partners not to recognize the outcome.

It is known that incumbent Vladimir Putin won a landslide victory in the Presidential Election in Russia on Sunday, setting a record for the highest votes and being the longest-serving leader in the country in two centuries.

Putin told his supporters in a winning speech in Moscow he would prioritize completing tasks related to what he called Russia's "special military operations" in Ukraine and would strengthen Russia's military.

"We have a lot to do going forward. But when we consolidate - no matter who wants to intimidate us, oppress us - no one has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded at this time, and they will never succeed in the future," said President Putin.

Putin won 87.8 percent of the vote, which is the highest result in the post-Soviet Russian history, according to a poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM). The Russian Center for Public Opinion Research (VCIOM) put Putin at 87 percent. The first official results show that the poll was accurate.

communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov took second place with a vote below 4 percent, followed by newcomer Vladislav Davankov in third and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky in fourth place.

The former lieutenant KGB colonel first rose to power in 1999. This result will perpetuate Putin to pass Josef Stalin and become Russia's longest-serving leader for more than 200 years if he completes his term of office.