“Putin has secured popular support for the restoration of the Russian Empire,” political scientist Dauksts concluded based on the results of the recent elections in the neighboring country. “From my point of view, Putin achieved the desired result. Essentially, these were not elections, but a referendum on support for Putin's course — and this is exactly what he achieved. The results of various gubernatorial or quasi-gubernatorial elections have absolutely no significance, as all these so-called officials were appointed in advance.” “Putin is satisfied that both in domestic politics and on his propaganda channels, he and his associates can assert that his regime is stable,” the analyst notes. “At the moment, initiating any peace negotiations — even with the U.S. — does not serve Putin's interests. However, one thing is clear: a significant part of the world is engulfed in corruption, which has become an integral part of international law and international relations. This is extremely dangerous. Moreover, such a situation does not ensure states' sovereignty; on the contrary, they fall under the control of the financial elite. And this is not only happening in Russia — it is happening everywhere. Money is beginning to play an excessive role in international law and international relations. This state of affairs devalues any elections, as one inevitably wonders: what is happening behind the scenes? There is little point even in assessing public debates, as the question inevitably arises: what is happening secretly, behind the curtain?” Dauksts' skepticism extends to the voting in the Saeima of Latvia: “Of course, I wouldn't want to admit this so openly... But my faith in honesty and transparency is also waning. Still, it seems to me that we are still in golden times. I hope our elections will be held fairly.”
