Every tinpot dictator these days feels the need to play at democracy. Putin is so desperate to lure at least enough people to the polls to make the election look not totally pathetic. So he’s putting up announcements that promise basic good staples to be sold next to the voting booths at “social prices” (meaning very cheaply.)
Obviously, it’s the very poor that he wants to attract because they are in thrall to his anti-West bluster.
As the local rag said today, Putin truly turned Russia from a backwards nation into a world superpower.
Clarissa's Blog 