Russians living abroad will be able to vote in the upcoming presidential election, Moscow has announced.

This includes those in countries deemed “unfriendly states” by the Kremlin, according to foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. 

Several countries have imposed sanctions on Russia or supplied weapons to Ukraine to fight Moscow’s troops, earning the frustration of the Kremlin. 

Ms Zakharova said there would be polling stations in all countries where Russia has diplomatic missions.

Vladimir Putin is expected to win the election, due to take place in mid-March, by a landslide majority, amid widespread allegations of corruption, vote-tampering and intimidation of rival candidates. 

In a bid to quash the allegations, Ms Zakharova said Russia would invite foreign election observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (ex-Soviet Union countries) and from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (which includes China, India, Pakistan and Iran). 

No Western countries have been invited to send election observers to date, with Ms Zakharova claiming it would be “strange” if Russia were to invite delegates from “Russophobe” countries from the Council of Europe.