Vladimir Putin kicked off his pre-election campaign with a visit to a plant in Arkhangelsk on December 11. In the VK public group 'Severodvinsk life,' the workers revealed that some were sent home, while others were instructed to draw the curtains and refrain from approaching the windows.
During his visit to the Sevmash plant in Severodvinsk, Vladimir Putin participated in a ceremony to raise the flag on nuclear submarines. The president's route was cleared of snow, and Arkhangelskoye highway, along with nearby streets, was closed, preventing many citizens from reaching their workplaces or schools.
Online comments in local public groups indicate that half of the Sevmash workers were compelled to take the day off on Monday. Some made up for it by working on Sunday, while others were asked to return the following weekend. This irked one commentator, who pointed out that weekend shifts are supposed to be compensated with double pay.
One plant employee claims that Sevmash workers have been confined to their office rooms, instructed to draw the curtains, and prohibited from approaching the windows. Another resident of Severodvinsk reports that sailors and their spouses were denied access to the flag-raising ceremony.
On December 8, Vladimir Putin declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections. The trip to Arkhangelsk marked his first regional visit after this announcement.
All regions visited by the president since the beginning of 2023 have experienced certain restrictions. In March, residents of the Buryatia capital, Ulan-Ude, were prohibited from crossing roads, and tramway lines ceased operation. In October, law enforcement sealed garage doors in Perm during Putin's participation in the 'Russia is a Sports State' forum.
