I mean, it’s possible, even probable that putin put them up to it to provide the appearance of an election, but certainly if anyone gets popular opposing him, they’ll end up dead, (as trump’s lawyers actually argued in court should be allowed before they won the presidential immunity argument). They get tiny numbers of votes, according the the official figures.

Nothing short of a communist-labelled fascist* will satisfy them.

I think you hit the nail on the head.