Vladimir Putin will continue as Russia’s President for at least the next 6 years after winning the weekend’s election with 87.97% of the vote. The result – which confirms his 5th term as leader – was widely anticipated following allegations of vote rigging. The White House was quick to issue a statement saying the vote was “obviously not free nor fair”. Putin’s opponents protested at polling stations and Russian embassies around the world as part of ‘noon against Putin’. That included Aysoltan Niyazova, a member of the dissident feminist punk group Pussy Riot who said “this is not an election; this is a crime against the election law.” Maria Pevchikh, who chairs Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, called protestors “heroes” and encouraged Russians not to give up hope despite facing the “darkest times”. Overnight, Putin thanked Russians for their support and said his country “would not be intimidated”.