page_title: Vladimir Putin 2018 presidential campaign
section_title: Visits and campaign
hierarchical_section_title: Vladimir Putin 2018 presidential campaign / Campaign / Visits and campaign
caption_attribution_description: English: Vladimir Putin voted in the presidential election in Russia in 2018 Русский: Владимир Путин проголосовал на выборах Президента России 2018
context_page_description: The 2018 presidential campaign of Vladimir Putin was announced on 6 December 2017, during Putin's speech at the GAZ automobile plant. He is the 4th and incumbent President of Russia; previously he was the 33rd Prime Minister of Russia, 2nd President of Russia and 4th Federal Security Service Director.
  This campaign is his fourth. Prior to this he successfully participated in elections in 2000, 2004 and 2012.
  Vladimir Putin had consistently scored higher than 40% in opinion polls since the last presidential election. According to opinion poll conducted in December 2017 by Gallup International, if Putin was not to be on the ballot 46% wouldn't have known for whom to vote and 19% would have made the ballot paper invalid. Putin was re-elected as the President of the Russian Federation on 18 March 2018.
context_section_description: On 7 February Putin visited Krasnoyarsk. Although it was officially a work trip many believe it was linked to his campaign. His visit was linked to the preparation to the Universaide, which will be held in the winter of 2019. Before addressing the issue he visited the multi-functional sports center Sopka. During the meeting concerning the issue Putin noted that Russia "without a doubt remains a leader in international sport". Next he went to a council concerning ecological problems. Near the end of his visit he entered the sport watching complex Platinum Arena Krasnoyarsk, where he took photos with training hockey players and met with the three players of the youth team Totem. To conclude his visit he inspected the new terminal of the aeroport Yemelyanovo.
  On 8 February President Putin visited Novosibirsk. The main topic for the visit was the scientific potential of the state. He met with members of SO RAN and congratulated them with the day of science. He visited the nuclear science institute Budker. He met with Andrey Travnikov, who is Acting Governor of Novosibirsk Oblast. He was present at the meeting of the council for education and science, where he revealed a few details of the speech he would give to the Federal Assembly.
  During his campaign he refused to take part in any presidential debates personally like he did in previous ones in 2000, 2004 and 2012, citing his spokesman, being "too busy". Though he was presented by his representative and his most presidential campaign is done by his trusted figures.
  On 3 March, in Moscow at the Luzhniki stadium held a rally in support of Vladimir Putin. In total, more than 130,000 people came to the rally. The rally was made by confidants of Putin, among whom were star athletes, figures of culture and science. Speaking at the meeting, Vladimir Putin said: "We want to make our country bright, looking forward to the future, because our ancestors lived here, we live, our children live and our children and grandchildren will live. We will do everything to make them happy. For us and apart from us no one else will. But if we do this, the next 10 years, the entire XXI century will be marked by our bright victories. We'll do it!".
  On 14 March, Vladimir Putin spoke at a rally in Sevastopol to mark the anniversary of the Crimean status referendum.
  On 18 March, Vladimir Putin voted in the presidential election. He voted at a traditional polling station located in the building of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
caption: Vladimir Putin voted in the election.
exif: {}