Russian voters poured ink into ballot boxes and lit firebombs at polling stations as the first of the country's three-day presidential election begins - that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin's rule by six more years.

Videos have been posted across social media of protestors attempting to cancel ballots by destroying them with coloured liquid - an apparent nod to the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant splashing green disinfectant in his face.

The Russian Central Election Commission said people poured ink into ballot boxes in five places, including Moscow.

Read more here: https://www.itv.com/news/2024-02-29/n...

• Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj
• Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news

Follow ITV News on Facebook:   / itvnews  
Follow ITV News on Twitter:   / itvnews  
Follow ITV News on Instagram:   / itvnews