Russia votes in parliamentary election as war in Ukraine drags on
United Russia is expected to keep its dominance as authorities restrict opposition and use the vote to signal support for the war in Ukraine.
- On Friday, Russia began a three-day parliamentary election, the first since invading Ukraine, with candidates competing for 450 seats in the State Duma. The ruling United Russia party is widely expected to retain dominance.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin framed the vote as a barometer of support for the war, urging citizens to demonstrate national resolve. The Kremlin asserts national unity is vital to counter Ukrainian intelligence efforts to stir internal unrest.
- Most anti-war candidates were excluded after the Supreme Court ruled the liberal Yabloko party breached electoral rules. Moscow branch head Kirill Goncharov told NHK that Putin "fears anti-war groups," vowing to continue campaigning in district races.
- Officials will start counting ballots on Sunday, with initial results expected Monday. Political parties, including United Russia, have put forward more than 180 candidates who have served in Ukraine.
- Authorities are gauging societal war weariness as fuel shortages, high interest rates, and Western sanctions strain the economy. Opinion polls indicate some Russians have become more anxious about how the conflict affects them personally.
143 Articles
143 Articles
Russia begins 3 days of voting in a parliamentary election set to cement the Kremlin’s power
Russians have begun three days of voting in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election. It's a heavily stage-managed election featuring virtually no opposition in order to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance.
Explainer-How Putin may leverage predictable outcome of Russia's elections
MOSCOW, Sept 18 - Russians are voting in a three-day parliamentary election which is widely expected to see the ruling United Russia party retain its dominance in what is a tightly controlled political system that has excluded most candidates who oppose Moscow's war in Ukraine. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Russia begins 3 days of voting in a parliamentary election set to cement the Kremlin's power
Authorities spread the election over the weekend, ending Sunday, in a bid to boost turnout among the 111 million eligible voters, and they even allowed electronic balloting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin cast his vote electronically in the ongoing State Duma elections from his office in the Kremlin on Friday. A video released by Russian authorities shows Putin staring intently at the screen, squinting his eyes as he cast his vote. After casting his vote, he smiles and says "thank you" twice before standing up and walking away from the table. Voting will continue until Sunday, with full election results expected t…
Parliamentary elections in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin voted online in the elections for the renewal of the Duma, the lower chamber of Parliament. (ANSA)
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