Russia's presidential election kicks off amid oddities and controversies

In Russia, the presidential election process has commenced. Local media report that already over a million individuals have participated in the voting. Social media platforms provide a glimpse into the voting proceedings, showcasing quirky elements like Tucker Carlson cutouts or portraits of Vladimir Putin, who is widely regarded as the pre-determined winner of these "elections."

Voting at Russian polling stations is set to continue until March 17. While there are 4 candidates running for presidency, the prevailing sentiment is that the election is merely a formality, with Vladimir Putin expected to maintain his grip on power.

During this electoral period, a variety of peculiar incidents have been observed. The Belarusian portal "Nexta" highlighted that in Chelyabinsk, a clock adorned with Putin's likeness, deemed to be indirectly promoting the candidate, was removed at the insistence of an "independent observer". Similarly, a portrait of Putin was concealed with a sheet in a Voronezh polling station to prevent any perceived endorsement.

One of the most peculiar stories comes from a polling station in Tyumen, Siberia. There, voters could pose for photographs with a life-size cardboard cutout of Tucker Carlson, the American journalist who recently conducted an interview with Putin and faced considerable criticism.

In the Murmansk region, voters are being enticed with the promise of family photographs after casting their ballots.

Yet more oddities include reports from the "Truha Ukraina" Telegram channel about a woman singing a "czastushka", a traditional Russian folk song, in a polling station, and two individuals dressed as knights putting on a performance to encourage voting.

"The Moscow Times" has reported the distribution of pens with vanishing ink in several regions. The ink, which disappears upon heating, was provided in pens that appeared ordinary.

>"Everyone was instructed to remain silent and keep their belongings to themselves," reported the portal, citing a Kursk resident as their source.

These pens reportedly came in boxes labeled with the BiC stationery company logo and the official emblem of the presidential elections from the Central Election Commission, a practice noted in Rostov-on-Don as well.

According to Western media, such questionable tactics have been employed in Russia since 2009. Ahead of Sunday, opposition groups are organizing protests.