Putin wins fourth term

Russian President Vladimir Putin coasted to reelection on Sunday, according to multiple reports.

A Russian state exit poll gave Putin nearly 74 percent of the vote, well ahead of his closest competitor, according to the Reuters. With Sunday’s result, Putin, 65, will earn his fourth term as president. 

The Associated Press reported widespread allegations of ballot-box stuffing and forced voting in Russia during the election.

Putin’s reelection comes as his country faces new sanctions from the U.S. and Great Britain.

{mosads}The U.S. Treasury Department announced last week it will target five entities and 19 individuals from Russia for actions ranging from “destabilizing efforts” in the 2016 presidential election to the “NotPetya” malware attack, the costliest and most disruptive in history.

Treasury says it will freeze the assets and prohibit Americans from doing business with the accused Russians.

British Prime Minister Theresa May announced last week that the country would expel 23 Russian diplomats, who she said were spies for the Russian government. The move came in response to the poisoning of an ex-Russian agent in Salisbury that May blamed on Russia.

Russia responded on Saturday with the expulsion of 23 British diplomats.