Voting has commenced in Russia's parliamentary elections, marking the first such electoral event since the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The elections, scheduled to run from September 18 to 20, are being conducted under conditions described by critics as lacking freedom and fairness. The ruling party, United Russia, which is supported by President Vladimir Putin, is anticipated to emerge as the largest party in parliament.
All ten parties on the ballot have demonstrated support for, or have not openly challenged, the policies of President Putin and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The sole anti-war party, Yabloko, was removed from the ballot in the lead-up to the polling day, although some of its candidates remain in contention in specific constituencies.
Analysts expect the Kremlin to interpret the election results as an affirmation of public support for both the president and the war effort. The outcome is not expected to bring about significant shifts in the political landscape within Russia.