Russians head to the polls this week in a presidential election that will almost certainly result in Vladimir Putin decisively winning yet another six-year term. When he does, it will make him the longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin. Advance polling indicates he will earn 75 per cent of the vote and face little or no meaningful opposition. His three main opponents are each polling at 5 per cent or less, while any candidate thought likely to attract support—or who would use the campaign to robustly oppose the war in Ukraine—has been banned, imprisoned or killed.

Despite the clear path to victory for Putin, the Kremlin reportedly spent more than $1 billion on propaganda in the lead up to the elections. Much of this budget was allocated to infotainment to promote nationalism, unity and traditional values. But why would a regime in the midst of a war, that has cost Russia more than US$200 billion feel the need to put effort into a sham election?