‘There are no decent parties left’: Sham elections underscore Putin’s grip on Russia
Vladimir Putin has sharply curtailed the power of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin by stripping him of his administrative base, rather than replacing him. Domestically, the war in Ukraine continues to impact Russian citizens as fuel shortages and drone strikes reach areas near Moscow, although many residents insist conditions remain normal. Putin has maintained continuous leadership in Russia since 1999 as either president or prime minister, guiding a political system built without alternation. Meanwhile, researchers report that Kremlin-backed actors continue targeting foreign elections to sow discord.
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- ✓ Vladimir Putin has continuously served as either president or prime minister of Russia since 1999.
What changed
Vladimir Putin has curtailed the power of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin by removing his administrative base.
Live updates
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Putin Restricts Mishustin's Power Amid Domestic War Pressure
Vladimir Putin has sharply curtailed the power of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin by stripping him of his administrative base, rather than replacing him. Domestically, the war in Ukraine continues to impact Russian citizens as fuel shortages and drone strikes reach areas near Moscow, although many residents insist conditions remain normal. Putin has maintained continuous leadership in Russia since 1999 as either president or prime minister, guiding a political system built without alternation. Meanwhile, researchers report that Kremlin-backed actors continue targeting foreign elections to sow discord.
Why it matters
Putin has held supreme authority since 1999 through multiple presidential and prime ministerial terms, establishing a political configuration without alternation. The regime relies on structured political control through parties such as United Russia and the People's Front. Internal strains are mounting as the war in Ukraine begins to affect areas closer to Moscow.
What is confirmed
- Vladimir Putin has continuously served as either president or prime minister of Russia since 1999.
Still unconfirmed
- Many residents near Moscow insist that conditions remain normal despite approaching drone strikes and fuel shortages.
What to watch next
- Further shifts in the administrative hierarchy surrounding Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin
- Additional domestic impacts from the war in Ukraine reaching areas near Moscow
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (5)
- en.wikipedia.org — Russia under Vladimir Putin - Wikipedia
- nationalsecurityjournal.org — Putin Has a Problem: Russians are Now Feeling the Impact of ...
- www.nbcnews.com — Tracking the 2026 early vote
- nestcentre.org — Putin’s post-election choices: Paving the way for regime ...
- carnegieendowment.org — The Foundations of a Russian Dictatorship: The Kremlin’s New ...
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Russia Neutralizes Electoral Competition as Putin Faces Isolation
Vladimir Putin faces mounting isolation at home and abroad as the war in Ukraine continues, reflected in a United Nations General Assembly vote where 143 nations condemned Moscow over sham referendums annexing parts of Ukraine. Meanwhile, a September vote exposed how the Russian political system has spent 25 years mastering elections without permitting political alternation. Concurrently, researchers tracking online influence report that Kremlin-backed actors are escalating efforts to sow distrust and discord in foreign elections, matching operations deployed across the last six U.S. election cycles.
Why it matters
The elimination of genuine political competition inside Russia follows a decades-long consolidation of power since Putin took the presidency in 2000. While the state maintains a multi-party framework on paper, the number of active parties has dropped significantly over the last 25 years. Internationally, Moscow utilizes multimedia influence networks managed by intelligence services and cyber actors to target democratic institutions.
What is confirmed
- A United Nations General Assembly vote condemning Russia's sham referendums annexing chunks of Ukraine drew 143 votes in favour, 35 abstentions, and five against.
- Kremlin-backed groups are renewing online influence tactics intended to sow distrust and discord in foreign elections.
Still unconfirmed
- Vladimir Putin is increasingly isolated inside Russia and abroad as the invasion of Ukraine drags on.
What to watch next
- Further assessments from researchers tracking Kremlin-backed online influence operations in the final stretch of elections.
- Developments regarding Russia's ongoing foreign interference strategies targeting democratic institutions.
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (5)
- www.thetimes.com.au — Vladimir Putin is increasingly isolated in Russia and abroad. Does he ...
- www.ms.now — Russia steps up efforts to boost Republicans as Election Day ...
- neweasterneurope.eu — How Russia eliminated electoral competition - New Eastern Europe
- cde.news — Key 2026 Elections: Transforming Europe's Political Landscape
- www.tpr.org — Russia steps up election influence efforts in final stretch ...
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Russia Extends Domestic Control While Fueling Foreign Influence Operations
Russia operates a dominant-party political system featuring 20 officially registered parties as of July 2025, with 17 holding the right to participate in elections. While the federation maintains a de jure multi-party framework, the number of active parties plummeted following Vladimir Putin's ascent to the presidency in 2000. Concurrently, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence identifies the Russian government as the leading foreign threat to elections. Moscow deploys a vast multimedia influence apparatus managed by intelligence services, cyber actors, state media, proxies, and social media trolls to erode trust in democratic institutions.
Why it matters
The restriction of domestic political pluralism inside Russia parallels aggressive foreign interference strategies targeting Western democracies. The U.S. Director of National Intelligence states that Moscow targets the United States as its primary adversary to weaken Western support for Ukraine and promote its own great power status. Meanwhile, European far-right nationalist and populist parties are increasingly dividing over historical sympathies for Russia as they move closer to governing power.
What is confirmed
- The Russian Federation officially registered 20 political parties as of July 2025, with 17 possessing the right to participate in elections.
- The U.S. Director of National Intelligence identifies Russia as the most active foreign threat to elections.
- Russia relies on intelligence services, cyber actors, state media, proxies, and social media trolls to execute influence operations.
Still unconfirmed
- Moscow views foreign influence operations as a means to tear down the United States and position itself as a great power.
What to watch next
- Shifts in European far-right party solidarity regarding Russia as nationalist groups near governing power.
- Future regulatory actions or registration changes affecting political parties within the Russian Federation.
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (3)
- nul.org — Armed With New Technology And Tactics, Russian Trolls Are ...
- en.wikipedia.org — List of political parties in Russia - Wikipedia
- kyivindependent.com — Europe's far right has a Putin problem
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Russia's Wartime Elections Centralize Power Under Putin
Russia's recent parliamentary elections have shifted away from encouraging citizen apathy and instead staged popular support for a further centralization of power under Vladimir Putin. Independent observers and comparative democracy researchers note that political opposition in Russia faces suppression through legal restrictions, candidate harassment, imprisonment, and state control over media. The Carnegie Endowment reports that Putin's conservative staffing policies have transformed parliament into a bureaucratic appendage of the executive branch. Meanwhile, the European Parliament refuses to recognize the new lower house as legitimate following the September vote.
Why it matters
Russia's electoral system formally provides for universal suffrage, multiparty competition, and periodic elections at federal, regional, and local levels. However, independent monitors have documented the progressive erosion of these competitive elements since the early 2000s, classifying the system as competitive authoritarianism or a hybrid regime. The upper house, the Federation Council, is not directly elected and consists of appointed representatives.
What is confirmed
- Russia's electoral system formally provides for universal suffrage, multiparty competition, and periodic elections at all levels of government.
- Political opposition in Russia is suppressed through legal restrictions on candidacy, harassment, imprisonment, and state control over mass media.
- Putin's conservative staffing policies have transformed parliament into a bureaucratic appendage of the executive branch.
What to watch next
- Further European Union or international sanctions over the parliamentary elections
- Implementation of Putin's conservative staffing policies within the new bureaucratic parliament
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (8)
- en.wikipedia.org — Elections in Russia - Wikipedia
- jacobin.com — In Russia’s Election, Nothing Happened, but Things Got Worse
- slate.com — Why Does Neera Tanden Do It?
- grokipedia.com — Sticky rice mortar — Grokipedia
- en.wikipedia.org — Sticky rice mortar - Wikipedia
- travelandtannins.com — Ming Dynasty Builders Mixed Rice Porridge Into Their Mortar ...
- carnegieendowment.org — How the Latest Election Changed the Role of Russia’s ...
- ridl.io — Riddle Russia
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Russia's sham elections solidify Putin's grip on power
The European Parliament has condemned Russia's recent State Duma elections as a "sham" and refused to recognize the new lower house as legitimate. The elections, held from September 17-20, 2026, saw the ruling United Russia party secure a constitutional majority. The vote was criticized for its lack of genuine opposition and allegations of widespread falsification.
Why it matters
The elections took place in a tightly controlled political environment where public criticism of the government remains heavily restricted. The results have been widely criticized by international observers and opposition groups, who argue that the vote was rigged to maintain the ruling party's grip on power. This development has significant implications for Russia's relations with the European Union and the international community.
What is confirmed
- The European Parliament has rejected the results of Russia's State Duma elections.
- The elections were held from September 17-20, 2026.
- The ruling United Russia party secured a constitutional majority in the elections.
- The vote was criticized for its lack of genuine opposition and allegations of widespread falsification.
What to watch next
- The Russian government's response to the European Parliament's condemnation
- The impact on Russia's relations with the EU and other international organizations
- Any further developments in the detention of election expert Aleksandr Kynev
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (6)
- www.telegraph.co.uk — Vladimir Putin - The Telegraph
- komersant.ua — Putin signed a decree on holding elections to the State Duma ...
- jamestown.org — Russian Elections Reveal Federal Security Service’s Growing ...
- meduza.io — ‘A complete sham’: European Parliament condemns Russia’s ...
- www.eppgroup.eu — Isolate Putin’s regime over sham elections - eppgroup.eu
- www.eubusiness.com — Euro-MPs denounce Russia elections as ‘complete sham’
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Russian Election Expert Arrested Following Nationwide Duma Vote
Russian authorities arrested and reportedly beat election expert Aleksandr Kynev following the nationwide State Duma elections that concluded on Sunday, September 20. Kynev had highlighted evidence of falsifications that benefited the ruling United Russia party, which secured 355 seats in the 450-member parliament according to final results confirmed on Friday, September 25. Analysts suggest the detention of the fraud expert signals an internal power struggle between security agencies and political operatives within the Kremlin. The three-day voting process took place in a tightly controlled political environment where public criticism of the war remains illegal and true opposition candidates are barred from the ballot.
Why it matters
The recent parliamentary vote cements the Kremlin's absolute political control over the legislature amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The arrest of a prominent election analyst after pointing to ballot irregularities highlights the severe risks facing independent observers in Russia. This latest crackdown demonstrates how the state handles scrutiny surrounding election integrity.
What is confirmed
- Russia held nationwide parliamentary elections for all 450 members of the State Duma over a three-day period ending on Sunday evening.
- United Russia won 355 seats in the parliamentary elections.
- Election officials confirmed the final results on Friday, September 25.
Still unconfirmed
- The arrest and reported beating of Aleksandr Kynev indicate a power struggle between security agencies and political operatives in the Kremlin.
- United Russia support increased by eight percentage points compared to the previous election.
What to watch next
- Further official statements regarding the detention and condition of Aleksandr Kynev
- Any escalation in the reported power struggle between security agencies and political operatives in the Kremlin
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (3)
- www.africanews.com — Russia holds nationwide Duma elections as war in Ukraine ...
- www.youtube.com — Putin Sweeps Duma Polls! United Russia Wins 355 Seats As Four ...
- www.rferl.org — After Russia's Elections, An Expert On Fraud Is Arrested And Reportedly Beaten
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United Russia secures record State Duma majority in first wartime elections
United Russia won a record number of seats in the State Duma following parliamentary elections held September 18-20. Election officials confirmed the final results on Friday, September 25, cementing the Kremlin's political control. The process occurred in a system where public criticism of the war is illegal and true opposition candidates were barred from the ballot. While some reports indicate United Russia's support barely changed since 2021, others claim the party scored eight percentage points higher than the previous election.
Why it matters
These elections represent the first parliamentary vote since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The results allow the Kremlin to claim public support for the war while removing previous outlets for political discontent.
What is confirmed
- United Russia won a record number of seats in the State Duma.
- Parliamentary elections took place from September 18 to 20.
- The 2026 vote was the first wartime parliamentary election in Russia.
- True opposition figures were barred from the ballot.
Still unconfirmed
- United Russia's support scored eight percentage points higher than the previous election.
- The elections involved mass falsifications, forced voting, and predetermined turnout figures.
- United Russia's support barely changed since 2021.
What to watch next
- Publication of missing precinct data for the Leningrad region and occupied territories
- Official breakdown of seat distribution by party in the State Duma
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (11)
- www.politico.eu — Vladimir Putin - POLITICO
- www.politico.eu — Kremlin - POLITICO
- www.themoscowtimes.com — United Russia Wins Record State Duma Majority in Elections ...
- www.latimes.com — Final results of Russia's tightly managed vote give a record ...
- meduza.io — Proof that Russia’s 2026 State Duma elections were the ...
- carnegieendowment.org — How the Kremlin Achieved Its Latest Implausible Election ...
- kyivindependent.com — Ukraine sanctions 44 people involved in Russia's sham ...
- foreignpolicy.com — What Putin's Sham Elections Say About Russia - Foreign Policy
- www.europesays.com — What Putin's Sham Elections Say About Russia - People
- thearabianpost.com — 2026 Russian State Duma Elections Further Consolidate Putin’s ...
- theins.press — A useful ritual: Why authoritarian regimes still need ...
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United Russia secures record majority in Russian parliamentary elections
United Russia is projected to hold a record majority following parliamentary elections held September 18-20. This result strengthens Vladimir Putin's control over the legislature and allows the Kremlin to claim public support for the war in Ukraine. Observers characterized the voting process as the dirtiest in the modern history of Russia, a nation that has lacked free and fair elections for nearly thirty years.
Why it matters
The elections served as a test of public sentiment regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin utilized the process to cement power by excluding opposition parties.
Still unconfirmed
- Observers described the September 18-20 parliamentary election as the dirtiest vote in Russia's modern history.
- United Russia is projected to have a record majority.
What to watch next
- Official certification of the final vote counts
- Kremlin announcements regarding new war mandates based on the results
confidence 70%Sources used for this update (2)
- time.com — What Russia’s Parliamentary Election Results Mean for Putin and the War
- www.yahoo.com — Russia's rigged election gives Putin a mandate for all-out war
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Russians Begin Voting in Stage-Managed Election
Russians started three days of voting in a parliamentary election designed to cement the Kremlin's power and test public backing for the ongoing war in Ukraine. The balloting features empty podiums, prizes for electronic voting, and a complete absence of opposition parties. President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of interfering in the electoral process as citizens head to the polls against the backdrop of an intensifying conflict and the tightening grip of his administration.
Why it matters
The elections serve as a key indicator of domestic political stability and public support for military actions in Ukraine. Observers characterize the multi-day process as stage-managed, reflecting the total control exerted by the current leadership over the political system.
What is confirmed
- Russians began three days of voting in a parliamentary election.
- President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine is interfering in the Russian parliamentary election.
- The elections take place against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the tightening grip of the Kremlin.
Still unconfirmed
- Prizes are being offered for electronic voting during the parliamentary election.
What to watch next
- Final voter turnout figures and official election results
- Further statements from international observers regarding election integrity
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (9)
- The Guardian — Russians go to polls against backdrop of Ukraine war and Putin’s tightening grip
- The New York Times — Opinion | This Is How Putin Took Total Control
- CNN — Empty podiums, prizes for e-voting, no opposition: Russians head to the polls amid intensifying war in Ukraine
- apnews.com — Russians begin 3 days of voting in a parliamentary election set to cement the Kremlin's power
- Reuters — Russians vote in election that Putin sees as gauge of support for his war
- npr.org — A Russian election and a warning to Europe about Russian aggression
- The New York Times — Russia Holds Stage-Managed Elections
- politico.eu — ‘There are no decent parties left’: Sham elections underscore Putin’s grip on Russia
- Yahoo — Putin says Ukraine interfering in Russian parliamentary election
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