Russia election: Stage-managed vote will give Putin another term

 As I walk around Borovsk, two things strike me about this town 60 miles (100km) from Moscow.

First, there is almost no sign of the presidential election coming up this weekend.

I see few election banners or billboards and no political flyers being handed out.

Not surprising, really. The absence of election preparations mirrors the absence of drama surrounding a stage-managed event that will hand Vladimir Putin a fifth term in the Kremlin. 

The other thing you can't help noticing in Borovsk is the street art. It's everywhere.

Much of it has been created by street artist Vladimir Ovchinnikov. All over town his work stares down from walls and buildings.

Most of his paintings are uncontroversial. Like the giant globe recounting the town's history. Or the image of a famous footballer.

Increasingly, though, when Vladimir paints a picture of today's Russia, it turns out very dark.

"I call this one Pinnacle of Ambition," the 86-year-old artist tells me. The painting he's showing me at home features a man in a martial arts uniform walking a tightrope over a mountain of human skulls.

"This is what the ambition of someone high up in power can lead to."

More dramatic still is his image of two meat grinders mincing people - one is labelled 1937 (the year of Stalin's Great Terror); the other Special Military Operation (Russia's war in Ukraine).

"We haven't learnt any lessons," concludes Vladimir.

FULL REPORT AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68543919