SRINAGAR: Russians began voting on Friday in a three-day parliamentary election to choose all 450 members of the State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly, in the first nationwide parliamentary poll since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Voting opened in the country’s Far Eastern regions, including Kamchatka and Chukotka, before extending across Russia. Polling will continue until Sunday, with President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party widely expected to maintain its dominance in the lower house.
The election is being held as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, while Russia faces increasing economic pressure and Ukrainian drone strikes have reached further into its territory. Russian authorities have also continued to restrict anti-war political activity.
Putin called on citizens to participate, describing the election as an expression of national unity and support for Russian forces.
In a televised address, he said the vote would show that millions of Russians supported the country’s soldiers and remained united by shared values, historical memory and patriotism.
United Russia is contesting the election against parties including the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, A Just Russia and New People. The anti-war Yabloko party, despite initially being cleared to participate, was subsequently removed from the ballot following a ruling by Russia’s Supreme Court.
The election also covers areas of Ukraine under Russian control. Kyiv has rejected the voting in those territories as illegal and said any results produced there would have no legal validity.
The Kremlin has portrayed the election as a demonstration of political unity and public backing during the war. Analysts cited by Reuters have said the poll will also offer an indication of public sentiment as the conflict continues to affect Russia’s economy and population.
