Putin’s Staged Reelection: Implications for Russia and the West

This week, the panel will look at the presidential elections that were held in Russia from March 15 to 17. With all notable rivals to Vladimir Putin dead, imprisoned, or in exile, his reelection was a foregone conclusion. We will discuss Putin’s tactics for extending his authoritarian rule by controlling information before and during the elections, the role of e-voting, and the response of the opposition and civil society. We also assess the impact of the “Putin factor” on international relations and Russia’s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine, and its implications for the approach of Germany and the West to Russia under his rule.

Speakers:

• Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, German Ambassador to Russia
• Stefan Meister, Head of the Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, DGAP
• Alena Epifanova, Research Fellow, Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, DGAP

Chair:

• Jan Stöckmann, Head of the Director’s Office, DGAP