Russians go to polls with no party against Putin or war in Ukraine
Russia has begun three days of parliamentary voting characterized by a lack of opposition parties opposing Vladimir Putin or the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin views the election as a gauge of support for its military campaign and a means to cement power. While a victory for the ruling United Russia party is considered certain, the process includes incentives for electronic voting and tight state control. International observers and opposition groups have reported restrictions on monitoring and the arrest of election observers.
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- ✓ Russia is conducting parliamentary elections over a three-day period.
- ✓ No political parties running in the election oppose Vladimir Putin or the war in Ukraine.
- ✓ The ruling United Russia party is widely expected to win.
- ✓ The Kremlin views the election as a measure of support for the war in Ukraine.
What changed
Voting has commenced over a three-day period featuring electronic voting incentives and reported arrests of opposition observers.
Live updates
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Russia holds parliamentary elections amid Ukraine war and opposition crackdown
Russia has begun three days of parliamentary voting characterized by a lack of opposition parties opposing Vladimir Putin or the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin views the election as a gauge of support for its military campaign and a means to cement power. While a victory for the ruling United Russia party is considered certain, the process includes incentives for electronic voting and tight state control. International observers and opposition groups have reported restrictions on monitoring and the arrest of election observers.
Why it matters
The State Duma elections serve as a mechanism for the Kremlin to maintain political legitimacy and gather feedback. These polls occur as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine and tightens internal political control. The outcome is widely expected to maintain the current power structure.
What is confirmed
- Russia is conducting parliamentary elections over a three-day period.
- No political parties running in the election oppose Vladimir Putin or the war in Ukraine.
- The ruling United Russia party is widely expected to win.
- The Kremlin views the election as a measure of support for the war in Ukraine.
Still unconfirmed
- Photography and video recording were banned during elections in Crimea.
What to watch next
- Official vote tallies for the State Duma
- Reports of widespread electoral fraud or observer arrests
- International reactions to the final results
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (17)
- The Guardian — Russians go to polls against backdrop of Ukraine war and Putin’s tightening grip
- CNN — Empty podiums, prizes for e-voting, no opposition: Russians head to the polls amid intensifying war in Ukraine
- The New York Times — Why Autocrats Care What People Think
- Euronews.com — Russians go to polls with no party against Putin or war in Ukraine
- Reuters — Russians vote in election that Putin sees as gauge of support for his war
- NBC News — Russians vote in a Kremlin-controlled election stalked by unease over Putin’s Ukraine war
- Yahoo — Russians begin 3 days of voting in a parliamentary election set to cement the Kremlin's power
- Yahoo — Putin will have Trump to thank for election victory in Russia’s rubber-stamp parliament
- Foreign Policy — Russia’s Parliamentary Elections Offer Rituals, Not Results
- Meduza — Moscow’s electronic voting system reportedly checks users for active VPNs. The check doesn’t block voting, and the site’s code doesn’t reveal why the data is collected.
- Інтент — Photography and video recording were banned during the sham elections in Crimea
- The International Foundation for Electoral Systems: IFES — IFES Condemns Russian Sham Elections on Occupied Ukrainian Territory
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