Russia begins parliamentary elections — first since the invasion of Ukraine: no real opposition, voting also in occupied territories

Russia began three-day voting today (Friday, September 18) for parliamentary elections — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Voters elect the 450 deputies of the State Duma, in a political landscape where critical opposition is practically nonexistent.

The “United Russia” party, which backs President Vladimir Putin and has dominated Russian politics for more than 20 years, is widely expected to keep its majority. Voting also includes Ukrainian territories under Russian control — Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Putin framed turnout as a barometer of support for the war in Ukraine, calling on Russians to vote. All other parties allowed on the ballot broadly support the war and vote together with the ruling party.

The only registered anti-war party, Yabloko, was briefly allowed to take part but was barred by the Supreme Court last month. Its co-founder, Grigory Yavlinsky, told CNN that the Kremlin was surprised by the support for the party and its message of a ceasefire in Ukraine.

A distinctive feature of these elections: 186 veterans of the war in Ukraine are running for the State Duma, while over 1,500 former military personnel are competing for regional and local posts — part of Putin’s “Time of Heroes” program to bring veterans into the administration. Moscow authorities have introduced bonus points for electronic voting, which critics see as less transparent.

The elections take place against a backdrop of rising social tensions: Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have caused fuel shortages and car queues in major cities. Russian social networks are circulating rumors of a new mobilization after the elections — something the Kremlin categorically denies.

Source: CNN