Putin casts parliamentary election as barometer of support for war, urges Russians to vote
Putin says the vote will show millions of Russians back the war, while authorities keep the only anti-war party off the ballot.
- On Friday, Russians began three days of voting for all 450 State Duma seats, marking the country's first parliamentary election since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin framed the vote as a test of public support for the war.
- Authorities methodically ensured a controlled ballot by removing the anti-war Yabloko party in August, citing alleged violations of campaigning rules. Dissenting politicians faced imprisonment or exile ahead of the campaign.
- Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and warehouses brought the war home to millions of Russians, exacerbating fuel shortages and economic stagnation. The government raised taxes and increased domestic borrowing to contain a widening deficit.
- United Russia is poised to retain overwhelming parliamentary control, with state pollsters recording 37 percent support despite public fatigue with the war. The party remains the primary vehicle for Putin's war efforts.
- Analysts characterize the election as a 'legitimating ritual' to demonstrate consensus, yet persistent public anxiety remains regarding potential post-election mobilization, which the Kremlin dismisses as 'nonsense.
302 Articles
302 Articles
Russians have begun voting in a three-day parliamentary election, the first in the country since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. The process takes place in a situation where the opposition is almost eliminated from the race. Authorities have decided to hold the vote over the weekend, in order to increase the turnout of 111 million voters, while electronic voting has also been allowed. Polling stations will remain open until Sunday. The Kremlin…
Russia begins 3-day legislative elections as Kremlin seeks to project support for war
Russia on Sept. 18 began its three-day elections for the 450-member State Duma, the lower chamber of Russia's legislature, for the first time since the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
The Independent
The Independent (US)What Putin’s war in Ukraine means for Russian elections as polls open
Putin has been facing declining approval ratings, mounting casualties and ‘net-zero’ territorial gains since March this year as polls open today. Experts tell Maira Butt what this could mean for the future of Russia
Three-day parliamentary elections began in RUSSIA today, with another convincing victory expected for the ruling United Russia party.
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