Russia is holding parliamentary elections for the first time since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, amid a tense political atmosphere in which opposition forces critical of the Kremlin have been excluded from the race.
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The electoral process lasts three days, and Russian citizens are voting for the 450 members of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.
The dominance of the United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin and has been the main force in Russian politics for more than two decades, is expected to continue after these elections.
A scene reflecting the political situation was recorded in the city of Ryazan. During a televised debate on the Russia-1 channel, none of the six registered candidates appeared in the studio, leaving only empty podiums facing the moderator.
Yabloko, a party that opposes the war and had campaigned in favor of a ceasefire and negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, has also been excluded from the elections. Russia’s Supreme Court banned it shortly after it had been registered to participate in the process.
Yabloko’s leaders have described the decision as political. Russian authorities, for their part, claim that the party violated rules on foreign financing and copyright.
Electronic voting has also drawn attention and sparked controversy. In Moscow, citizens who vote online or use electronic terminals at polling stations are being offered points that can be exchanged for prizes instead of voting with paper ballots.
Critics have long questioned the transparency of this system. The elections are being held as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year. Ukrainian drone attacks inside Russian territory are increasingly affecting daily life, while strikes on oil refineries have caused difficulties with fuel supplies in several regions.
War veterans are also playing an important role in this race. Data cited by CNN show that 186 veterans of the war in Ukraine are running for the State Duma, while more than 1,500 former military personnel are seeking positions at the regional and local levels.
In Moscow, some voters have expressed concern about the war and the country’s future direction. Raisa said she wanted the conflict to end and hoped for a “peaceful” future.
Marina Alexandrovna, 73, said she had not yet decided which candidate she would vote for. She said she did not like the way political events were unfolding, but did not see many opportunities to change them.
According to analysts cited by CNN, for the Kremlin these elections also serve as an opportunity to demonstrate public support for Vladimir Putin’s policies during the war. Meanwhile, speculation about a new military mobilization after the elections has increased on Russian social media, claims the Kremlin has denied.
Voting is also taking place in Ukrainian territories that Russia claims to have annexed, including Crimea and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine and most of the international community do not recognize these annexations.
For the Kremlin, the elections are taking place at a key political moment, as the war continues and pressure on the Russian economy and society remains strong.
