United Russia Maintains Majority in Russian Parliament Following Election

The main Kremlin party, United Russia, retained its majority in Russia's parliament, according to election officials on Monday, following three days of voting that largely excluded opposition candidates. Preliminary results indicated that United Russia would secure 355 out of 450 seats in the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, as reported by the Central Election Commission. This would mark a record high for the party if confirmed. Results from over 95% of polling stations showed United Russia receiving just under 58% of the vote for the 225 seats allocated by parties, according to commission chair Ella Pamfilova. Additionally, United Russia candidates were leading in 208 out of 225 individual constituency races. Other parties that typically support Kremlin initiatives also won seats, while a few candidates ran without party affiliation. This election was the first since President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and included residents from four regions of Ukraine that were annexed by Russia. Voting took place in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and Kyiv condemned the voting in these regions as illegal. Tatyana Stanovaya from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center commented that the government was able to conduct the campaign and voting as it desired, achieving optimal results. The Kremlin intensified its crackdown on opposition prior to the election, barring Russia's only liberal anti-war party from the ballot and limiting its participation to single-constituency races. The Kremlin aimed to use the parliamentary election to demonstrate popular support for the war while suppressing dissent. A significant state media campaign and strict control over the election process left little doubt about the Kremlin's continued dominance in Russian politics amid rising economic challenges and increased Ukrainian drone attacks. Electronic voting was promoted in many regions, which critics argue facilitated government control over the election results. Pamfilova reported a turnout of just over 59%, the highest for a parliamentary election in over a decade, with final results expected to be announced on Friday. The liberal Yabloko party, which publicly criticized the war, was removed from the ballot by Russia's Supreme Court last month, limiting its candidates to single-constituency races. Additionally, some anti-war politicians faced imprisonment or were forced to flee abroad before the election. Yabloko and the Communist Party, which has criticized some government policies but avoided direct criticism of Putin, reported that many of their observers were denied access to polling stations. Russia did not invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the Foreign Ministry accusing the group of double standards. The election occurred amid ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks, with Russia's Defense Ministry reporting the downing of 1,110 Ukrainian drones overnight. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the attacks on the capital as the largest ever, with reports of casualties and injuries. Stanovaya expressed concerns about potential mobilization, increased repression, and escalation following the election results, suggesting that while Putin might interpret the results as public support for the war, the demand for ending the conflict is growing.