A Putin online vote Windows watermark moment went viral after footage released by the Kremlin’s press service, showing Russian President Vladimir Putin casting his ballot online in the 9th State Duma elections, revealed an “Activate Windows” notice in the corner of his screen, indicating the operating system was unlicensed.
What the Footage Showed
Putin voted remotely from his Kremlin office computer on Friday, September 18, the first day of Russia’s three-day State Duma election, running through September 20. He appeared to navigate the online voting system somewhat awkwardly, prompting additional commentary from Russian bloggers about his apparent unfamiliarity with the device and his evident difficulty seeing the screen clearly.
The Internet’s Reaction
Social media users seized on the moment, joking about Russia’s inability to afford a $139 Windows license despite being a nuclear power, and poking fun at what some described as an outdated monitor. The jokes touched on the broader reality that Microsoft and other Western tech companies, including Dell, halted sales in Russia following sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
The Election Itself
This marked the sixth time Putin has voted electronically since first using the system in 2021, including in the 2024 presidential election. For the first time, residents of the Russian-annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions are taking part in Duma elections. More than 4,400 candidates registered across the country, with Putin’s United Russia party fielding roughly 400 candidates competing for the Duma’s 450 seats.
Criticism of the Process
Western governments and Kremlin critics have described the election as tightly controlled, pointing to the exclusion of the anti-war Yabloko party from the ballot and a lack of genuine opposition. Polls widely expect United Russia to retain its dominant majority once results are finalized.