Russia is holding presidential elections this weekend and, like me, you’re no doubt waiting with bated breath to see who will come out on top this time around.
Given that Vladimir Putin’s grip on power is so absolute, it rather begs the question of why Russia’s longest-ruling leader since Joseph Stalin even bothers with elections at all. Not least because of the potential for civil disobedience they present in relation to his so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine, which may have led to hundreds of thousands of Russian casualties, by some estimates.
In fact, as the Guardian’s Moscow correspondent Andrew Roth outlines in this week’s edition, Putin views carefully rigged elections as crucial for legitimising his rule. To that end, he is willing to spend vast sums – upwards of $1bn, according to leaked documents – controlling the media and information spheres to ensure the Kremlin’s curated version of Russian domestic politics provides an illusion of choice while delivering an election outcome that serves the president’s needs.
“Much of that is patriotic content, just one part of the efforts at ‘pre-rigging’ the elections to help ensure a broad turnout and reduce the need for cruder forms of manipulation,” writes Andrew.
That’s our big story in this week’s Guardian Weekly magazine – here are a few other highlights to look out for.
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Five essential reads in this week’s edition
1
Spotlight | The US presidential election no one wants
It’s looking almost certain that a Trump v Biden rematch awaits us in November. Washington correspondent Joan E Greve asks how it came to this, again
2
Spotlight | Ten years on, the unsolved riddle of Flight MH370
Despite a vast international investigation, relatives of 239 passengers lost on the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight are still seeking answers. Oliver Holmes and Haylena Krishnamoorthy reflect on one of aviation’s biggest mysteries
3
Feature | How Covid changed the world of politics
Four years after the start of the pandemic, the drama may have subsided but in some ways the landscape remains changed. Are we suffering from political long Covid, asks David Runciman
4
Opinion | Andy Beckett on protest and politics
Street demonstrations are hardly surprising when politicians fail to represent the people properly, argues the Guardian columnist
5
Culture | The origin of the Simpsons
Larry Ryan backtracks to tell the story of the hippies, nerds and Hollywood pros who brought America’s favourite animated family to life
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What else we’ve been reading
With the war in Ukraine entering its third year, it is hard to be shocked by reports from our frontline correspondents. But this piece on Indian and Nepali men being duped into fighting for Russia brought me up short and showed a previously unreported and tragic aspect of the Kremlin’s methods. Isobel Montgomery, deputy editor
Teaching classes of teenagers must be hard enough, but having to openly acknowledge your sexuality in front of them must take an already challenging experience to a whole new level. I found author and teacher Michael Donkor’s account of coming out as gay to his pupils to be sensitive, insightful and, hopefully, inspiring to others in the same position. Graham Snowdon, editor
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Other highlights from the Guardian website
• Audio | What’s behind the rapid rise of cancer in the under-50s?
• Video | How cruise ships became a catastrophe for the planet
• Gallery | Famous photographs remade in Play-Doh
• Interactive | The story of Gaza’s destruction in 100 lives
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Get in touch
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the magazine: for submissions to our letters page, please email weekly.letters@theguardian.com. For anything else, it’s editorial.feedback@theguardian.com
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