Vladimir Putin wins Fourth Term Presidency with Wide Margin

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – MARCH 18: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a rally of his supporters at Manezhnaya Square near the Moscow’s Kremlin, Russia, March 18, 2018. Vladimir Putin has won the 2018 Presidential Elections. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

Russian President Vladamir Putin will enjoy a 4th term of presidency after winning 76.7% of the votes at the election, CNN reports.

With 99.8% of the votes counted, Putin’s closest rival, Communist Party candidate Pavel Grudinin, comes in at just 11.79% of votes.

Alexei Navalny, Putin’s fiercest rival, was barred from running.

Putin, who became president in 2000, will have another 6 years to rule, and will be expected by law to step down at the end of his term in 2024.

Photo Credit: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images