Key facts
- United Russia is set to win Russia's parliamentary elections, according to preliminary data.
- The ruling party is projected to secure 57.54% of the vote.
- Independent election monitors consider the results predetermined.
- Elections were held in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces under threats of violence.
- Over 2,000 Russians are currently imprisoned for political reasons, according to OVD-Info.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery on September 20.
United Russia, the political party led by Russian President Vladimir Putin, is projected to win the country's parliamentary elections, according to preliminary data released as polls closed on September 20. The three-day election, the first since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is widely viewed by independent monitors as predetermined.
Preliminary figures from Russia's Central Election Commission indicate that United Russia is on track to secure 57.54% of the vote. Final results are not expected until September 25. Putin, who served as United Russia's leader from 2008 to 2012, was not on the ballot for this parliamentary election, having secured 88% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election.
Other parties, including the Communists, the LDPR, and the New People's Party, are expected to win minority seats and generally align their voting with United Russia. The political landscape is characterized by voter suppression and restrictions on free speech, with over 2,000 individuals currently imprisoned for political reasons, according to the human rights organization OVD-Info. Genuine opposition parties were banned from campaigning, and the anti-war party Yabloko was barred from participating by the Russian Supreme Court.
Elections were also conducted in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces, reportedly under duress. Putin stated in a September 16 speech that the election would demonstrate public backing for Russia's military and unity. On September 20, the final day of voting, Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery, causing significant fires. Russian officials accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the election through cyberattacks on voting systems and communications infrastructure, though authorities claimed these attempts were repelled.