Russians are voting for a new State Duma in a tightly controlled election that offers little competition, with Vladimir Putin's United Russia expected to extend its 23-year hold on parliament.
Key facts
- Russians are electing a new State Duma in a three-day vote beginning Friday, with results expected after polls close Sunday.
- United Russia, President Vladimir Putin's party, is expected to extend the parliamentary grip it has held for 23 years.
- A liberal anti-war party was barred from the ballot, according to the Guardian.
- Nominal opposition parties on the ballot reliably vote with the Kremlin on key issues.
Russians began voting on Friday to elect a new State Duma in an election that, according to the Guardian, has been stripped of meaningful competition and leaves little doubt about the outcome. The vote takes place against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and what the outlet described as President Vladimir Putin’s tightening grip on power.
Putin’s United Russia party is expected to extend the control over parliament it has held for 23 years. The Guardian reported that the party faces no meaningful opposition in the contest.
A liberal anti-war party was barred from appearing on the ballot, the Guardian said, removing one of the few potential sources of genuine opposition to the Kremlin’s line.
The parties that remain on the ballot alongside United Russia are described by the Guardian as nominal opposition. These parties reliably vote with the Kremlin on the issues that matter, according to the report.
The three-day vote begins on Friday, with results expected after polls close on Sunday. The extended voting period is a feature of the tightly controlled process described in the coverage.
With the outcome widely anticipated in advance, the election is set to reaffirm the political dominance that United Russia and Putin have maintained over the country’s legislature.
Why it matters
The Duma election underscores how tightly the Kremlin manages Russia's political system, particularly during the war in Ukraine. A controlled result with no real opposition allows Putin's United Russia to keep shaping legislation and policy without meaningful challenge.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Russian Duma election take place?
The three-day vote begins on Friday, with results expected after polls close on Sunday, according to the Guardian.
Which party is expected to win?
Vladimir Putin's United Russia is expected to extend the grip on parliament it has held for 23 years.
Why is the election described as lacking meaningful opposition?
The Guardian reports a liberal anti-war party was barred from the ballot, while the nominal opposition parties on the ballot reliably vote with the Kremlin on key issues.