Vladimir Putin has claimed victory in an election he said showed the people had “trust” and “hope” in him, writes SKY NEWS.

Sunday was the last day of a presidential election that offered Russians no real alternatives to Putin after he ruthlessly cracked down on dissent. Early returns after the polls closed showed he is poised to extend his near 25-year rule until 2030, with some 87% of the vote after about 80% of precincts were counted, according to Russia’s Central Election Commission.

Russian leader went on to say that protests during the election had “no effect” and any “crimes” would be punished after the vote. He also said that he was informed of an idea to release his fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, from prison, days before the opposition leader’s death in an Arctic prison last month.

He said that he agreed to the idea, on condition that Navalny did not return to Russia.