Putin Announces Fifth Term Re-Election Bid, Securing Future as Russian President

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his bid for re-election, which is expected to secure him a fifth term in office. With a strong grip on power and an approval rating of 82%, Putin is widely expected to win another six-year term. The voting window will be extended to three days, and voting will also be open in four regions of Ukraine that were partially annexed by Russia. While it is unclear who will challenge Putin, imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny has urged his supporters to vote for anyone but Putin.