Kremlin entices voters with prizes from iPhones to cars ahead of elections

Russian local authorities are working hard to attract as many voters as possible to the upcoming presidential elections, according to "Moscow Times." The pressure is being applied to public sector workers and through organizing contests with prizes under the rule of Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin is intent on ensuring that the elections, which start this Friday, will secure another term for President Vladimir Putin. "Moscow Times" reports the use of pressure on public sector employees and state-affiliated companies to boost voting turnout.

To draw in voters, the government is offering various incentives, including free meals, concert tickets, and lottery participation. Prizes in these lotteries range from a pack of sugar to cars, demonstrating the regime's efforts to entice citizens' engagement with attractive rewards.

As detailed by "Moscow Times," in the Altai Territory, election participants could win sanctioned iPhone 15s or Dyson hair styling products by posting a selfie from the polling station online and entering a lottery.

In the Sverdlovsk region, the election lottery prizes feature 2,000 Chinese smartphones, 45 apartments, 20 motorcycles, and 100 cars produced by Moskvich plants, showcasing a wide array of enticing rewards for voters.

Many promotional events have been scheduled by local authorities to start at noon on Sunday. Coinciding with this, supporters of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny have planned a protest action titled "Noon against Putin."