Putin's secret service accuses the USA of interfering in the Russian election - with calculation?. Putin is way ahead in the polls – is the Kremlin still worried about voter turnout? Despite the allegations and suspected US interference, polls predict that the Russian president will easily win the election.
There are voices in the West calling for Putin to be declared an illegitimate president after the coming elections. Putin will - most likely - be able to extend his term as president for another six years: Alexei Navalny, Putin's most famous critic, died in February.