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Russia’s three-day parliamentary election began on Friday, with President Vladimir Putin portraying the vote as a measure of public support for the country’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The election is Russia’s first parliamentary vote since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Voters will elect members of the 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of parliament. The ruling United Russia party is widely expected to retain its dominance in the tightly controlled political system.
Most anti-war candidates have been barred from contesting the election after Russia’s Supreme Court ruled that the liberal Yabloko party, which supports a ceasefire, had violated electoral rules. Some Yabloko candidates are still contesting individual constituencies.
In a televised address ahead of the vote, Putin said voting would help secure Russia’s victory in Ukraine and demonstrate national resolve in the face of external pressure. The Kremlin has also accused Ukrainian intelligence services and other hostile forces of seeking to foment unrest inside Russia, stressing the importance of national unity.
The election comes as some Russians express growing concern about the impact of the war. The economy is also under pressure, with Ukrainian drone strikes contributing to fuel shortages in some regions, while businesses face high interest rates, labour shortages and Western sanctions.
The vote is therefore also expected to provide an indication of the depth of war fatigue among the Russian public. Initial and partial results are expected from 6pm GMT on Sunday, with near-complete results likely by Monday.