Putin victory speech: Russian leader claims he had agreed to Navalny prisoner swap before his death

President Vladimir Putin won a record post-Soviet landslide in Russia's election on Sunday, cementing his already tight grip on power in a victory he said showed Moscow had been right to stand up to the West and send its troops into Ukraine. The outcome means Putin, 71, is set to embark on a new six-year term that will see him become Russia's longest-serving leader for more than 200 years if completed.

"This unity will allow us to act effectively on the frontline, in the economy, humanitarian development, achieving the goals of social development projects. We have huge development plans. People felt that and came to create the conditions for development and the strengthening of their Fatherland — Russia," Putin said.

According to exit polls, Putin won more than 87 per cent of the vote, the highest ever result in Russia's post-Soviet history. First official results indicated the polls were accurate, while the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations have said the vote was neither free nor fair due to the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship.

In his post-election remarks, Putin also said that he had agreed to a prisoner swap involving opposition leader Alexei Navalny before his death in prison last month, on the condition that Navalny would not return. “Yes, he has passed away. It is always a sad event. We have had other cases where people in prison have passed away. Hasn't that happened in the United States?” Putin asked.

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