https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/russia-s-sham-election-is-descending-into-farceContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/russia-s-sham-election-is-descending-into-farcehttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/russia-s-sham-election-is-descending-into-farce#u73933Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:45:27 +0000Russia is conducting parliamentary elections expected to secure Kremlin power and ensure a victory for Putin's United Russia party. While the process is described by some as a sham or farce, the candidate pool includes both veterans of the Ukraine war and an anti-war candidate mounting a long-shot bid. Observers suggest the actual results are less significant than the levels of coercion and turnout. Some reports indicate the vote may be a precursor to a larger wartime mobilization.Why it mattersThese elections occur during an active conflict in Ukraine. The outcome is widely viewed as a f