"Russia's Voter Turnout Concerns: From Elections to Border Booths"

Russia's upcoming presidential election is set to affirm Vladimir Putin's hold on power, following the disqualification of antiwar candidate Boris Nadezhdin and the widely blamed death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Putin's regime has led to an abnormal state of affairs, with the economy increasingly dependent on military investment, diminishing returns from oil and gas exports, and a looming demographic crisis. The government's focus on military-industrial complex has led to a decline in labor productivity, while efforts to boost the birth rate and rural living are unlikely to address the demographic challenges. Putin's war in Ukraine reflects a fight against the future, as he prioritizes maintaining power and an imperialist ideology over the country's long-term well-being.