Russians Cast Votes in First Parliamentary Election Amid War

Millions of Russian voters have begun voting in the first war-era parliamentary election since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. This three-day voting process aims to fill all 450 seats in the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament.

The election is heavily controlled by the Kremlin, which seeks to project an image of public support for President Vladimir Putin and his military operations. The ruling party, United Russia, holds a significant majority and is anticipated to retain its position without challenge, as major anti-war political groups and independent candidates have been barred from participation.

The Supreme Court has removed the liberal Yabloko party from the ballot, leaving parties like the Communist Party and the Liberal Democratic Party, which align with Kremlin policies. Voting, which includes online systems, spans from Friday to Sunday and extends to annexed Ukrainian regions and Crimea, a move condemned by Kyiv and the EU.

The election serves to reinforce the Kremlin's authority rather than provide genuine electoral choice.