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Assassination Plot Uncovered Before Putin Wins the Presidential Election

In late Feb. 2012, Russian and Ukrainian intelligence worked together to stop an assassination attempt against Vladimir Putin. Two men were arrested in Odessa, the third largest city in Ukraine, after an apartment explosion. A third would-be assassin was killed in the explosion. Officials announced that the three men were sent by a Chechen terrorist leader, Doku Umarov. The report about the plot was released on Russian television on Feb. 26, one week before the presidential election. Putin was expected to win the election, despite his fading popularity and the recent protests. Also on February 26, thousands of protesters demonstrated in downtown Moscow. The activists held hands and wore white ribbons to express their frustration with Putin.

On March 2, 2012, two days before the presidential election, Putin hinted in an interview that he might run again in 2018. That would lengthen his total time as Russia's leader to 24 years. "It would be normal, if things are going well, and people want it," Putin said.

On March 4, 2012, Vladimir Putin won the presidential election, claiming 64% of the vote. The following day, observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe challenged the election, saying Putin won because he had no competition and government spending at his disposal. The United States and the European Union called for an investigation into fraud allegations. Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators in Moscow took to the streets, chanting, "Russia without Putin." A similar demonstration happened in St. Petersburg. When protestors refused to leave, police arrested them. In Moscow, 250 people were arrested. In St. Petersburg, 300 demonstrators were detained.

Inspired by the protests against Putin, about 200 young Muscovites ran as independent candidates in municipal March 2012 elections. More than 70 of them won spots on district councils. Even with Putin's supporters occupying many of the other council seats, the elections were a sign that the protests had made an impact in the political system and, perhaps, would continue to do so.