Russia began a three-day voting process on Friday to elect members of the State Duma, the country’s lower legislative house. The elections mark the first parliamentary vote held since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party is widely expected to secure a decisive victory in the heavily managed political environment.
Only parties that endorse Putin’s military operations in Ukraine were permitted to register, while genuine opposition groups were excluded from the ballot. The liberal party Yabloko was removed from the lists last month, underscoring the restrictive nature of the electoral process.
Despite the anticipated outcome, analysts and citizens alike view the election as a de facto referendum on the continuation of the war, now entering its fifth year. Public sentiment appears to be shifting against the conflict due to escalating inflation, intensified internet censorship, fuel supply issues, and persistent rumors of an upcoming mobilization drive following the polls.
Putin has characterized the vote as a “collective contribution to Russia’s victory against Ukraine,” framing civic participation as a patriotic duty. More than 110 million Russian citizens are eligible to cast ballots for the 450 seats in the Duma. United Russia currently holds more than two-thirds of these seats and is projected to maintain its supermajority, ensuring continuity for the war effort regardless of declining grassroots support.
Voting commenced early in the eastern time zones, with the Kamchatka peninsula and Chukotka being the first regions to open polls. Ballot boxes will remain accessible until 1800 GMT on Sunday. For the first time, Russian citizens residing in the occupied Ukrainian territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are permitted to vote, a move rejected by Kyiv. Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, is participating in the elections for the second consecutive time.
In addition to the federal parliamentary race, residents in eight regions will simultaneously elect members to their local regional parliaments.
War fatigue is real, but with the ballot rigged, there is no way for dissent to show up at the polls.
The inclusion of occupied Ukrainian regions is just another illegal move. How can this be called a legitimate election?