Russians have begun voting in a three-day parliamentary election, the first national legislative vote since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as the war and its economic impact remain major issues for voters.
Polling stations opened in Russia’s Far East on Friday before voting gradually moved west across the country’s 11 time zones. The election will determine all 450 seats in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.
President Vladimir Putin has urged Russians to participate, portraying the election as a demonstration of national unity and support for the country’s armed forces. He has also described the vote as an opportunity to show resistance to what he says are foreign efforts to weaken Russia.
Putin’s United Russia party is expected to retain its dominant position in parliament. The party currently controls about two-thirds of the Duma, while the other major parties contesting the election generally support the Kremlin’s broader policies and its military campaign in Ukraine.
The anti-war Yabloko party was barred from participating shortly before the election after Russia’s Supreme Court rejected its appeal over its removal from the ballot. Many prominent opposition figures have also been imprisoned or forced into exile.
The election is taking place amid growing economic pressure and the effects of the war on Russian society. Ukrainian drone attacks have reached deeper into Russian territory this year, disrupting energy infrastructure and contributing to fuel shortages in some areas.
The Kremlin has also organised voting in areas of Ukraine that Russia controls and claims to have annexed. Ukraine and Western governments reject the legitimacy of elections held in those territories, saying Russia has no right to conduct elections there.
Early voting has already taken place in some Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, with election officials accompanied by armed personnel in certain areas. Ukrainian authorities have warned residents against participating in the vote.
The election comes as the war enters its fifth year, with no comprehensive peace agreement in sight. While Russia continues its military campaign, diplomatic efforts have periodically sought a path towards negotiations.
The vote will also provide the Kremlin with an indication of public sentiment at a time when the war has become increasingly costly for Russia. Ukrainian attacks, economic difficulties and concerns over a possible new mobilisation have contributed to uncertainty ahead of the election.
Voting will continue through Sunday, with results expected to determine the composition of the State Duma for the next parliamentary term.:::
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