03:42Anatoly Antonov, Russian ambassador to the United States, was seen casting his ballot in Washington, DC on Sunday as voters headed to the polls to select their preferred candidate in the presidential election.
Footage shows election officials listening to the national anthem during an opening ceremony at the Russian embassy ahead of the vote. Later, Antonov and others are shown heading into booths and placing their votes into a ballot box.
"We opened our polling station a few minutes ago, everything is ready to ensure that every citizen of the Russian Federation can calmly and safely express their will,” Antonov said. “As for myself, I considered it important to be the first to vote.”
According to the Russian ambassador, many voters arrived at the embassy earlier than expected.
“I was walking by literally 20 minutes before the start of the work of the precinct commission, and there were already people there,” he said, “I apologised to them, said that we couldn't let them in 20 minutes earlier.”
Russia's presidential election took place over three days on March 15-17, with early voting between February 25 and March 14.
After 99,76 per cent of the votes were counted, incumbent President Vladimir Putin had secured 87,29 per cent, according to the election commission, while the other three candidates had less than 5 per cent.
Russian ambassador Antonov casts vote in Washington on closing day of presidential election
Anatoly Antonov, Russian ambassador to the United States, was seen casting his ballot in Washington, DC on Sunday as voters headed to the polls to select their preferred candidate in the presidential election.
Footage shows election officials listening to the national anthem during an opening ceremony at the Russian embassy ahead of the vote. Later, Antonov and others are shown heading into booths and placing their votes into a ballot box.
"We opened our polling station a few minutes ago, everything is ready to ensure that every citizen of the Russian Federation can calmly and safely express their will,” Antonov said. “As for myself, I considered it important to be the first to vote.”
According to the Russian ambassador, many voters arrived at the embassy earlier than expected.
“I was walking by literally 20 minutes before the start of the work of the precinct commission, and there were already people there,” he said, “I apologised to them, said that we couldn't let them in 20 minutes earlier.”
Russia's presidential election took place over three days on March 15-17, with early voting between February 25 and March 14.
After 99,76 per cent of the votes were counted, incumbent President Vladimir Putin had secured 87,29 per cent, according to the election commission, while the other three candidates had less than 5 per cent.
Anatoly Antonov, Russian ambassador to the United States, was seen casting his ballot in Washington, DC on Sunday as voters headed to the polls to select their preferred candidate in the presidential election.
Footage shows election officials listening to the national anthem during an opening ceremony at the Russian embassy ahead of the vote. Later, Antonov and others are shown heading into booths and placing their votes into a ballot box.
"We opened our polling station a few minutes ago, everything is ready to ensure that every citizen of the Russian Federation can calmly and safely express their will,” Antonov said. “As for myself, I considered it important to be the first to vote.”
According to the Russian ambassador, many voters arrived at the embassy earlier than expected.
“I was walking by literally 20 minutes before the start of the work of the precinct commission, and there were already people there,” he said, “I apologised to them, said that we couldn't let them in 20 minutes earlier.”
Russia's presidential election took place over three days on March 15-17, with early voting between February 25 and March 14.
After 99,76 per cent of the votes were counted, incumbent President Vladimir Putin had secured 87,29 per cent, according to the election commission, while the other three candidates had less than 5 per cent.