Long lineups at Russian polling stations, spoiled ballots part of peaceful anti-Putin election protests
Thousands of people turned up at polling stations across Russia on Sunday to take part in what the anti-Kremlin opposition said was a peaceful but symbolic political protest against the re-election of President Vladimir Putin.
![Long lineups at Russian polling stations, spoiled ballots part of peaceful anti-Putin election protests](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7146524.1710684130!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/2084786473.jpg)
![A police officer checks voters queuing at a polling station at noon local time in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The Russian opposition has called on people to head to polling stations at noon on Sunday in protest as voting takes place on the last day of a presidential election that is all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule after he clamped down on dissent. AP can't confirm that all the voters seen at the polling station at noon were taking part in the opposition protest. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) A police officer checks voter with a metal detector at a polling station in Moscow.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7146517.1710683792!/cpImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/russia-election.jpg)
Thousands of people turned up at polling stations across Russia on Sunday to take part in what the anti-Kremlin opposition said was a peaceful but symbolic political protest against the re-election of President Vladimir Putin.