The overseeing mission of the Commonwealth of Independent States made up of 194 people will observe Russia’s presidential election, the mission’s head Ilkhom Nematov said.
The election came as Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine enters its third year.
“I support Putin and, of course, I will vote for him,” Lyudmila Petrova, 46, who was shopping for sneakers at one of Russia’s largest wholesale markets in southern Moscow, said.
“Putin raised Russia up from its knees. And Russia will defeat the West and Ukraine. You cannot defeat Russia — ever. Have you in the West gone completely mad? What is Ukraine to do with you?”