Key facts
- Russia's parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place this weekend.
- The election is expected to result in a parliament dominated by the United Russia party.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia has its own political system and process.
- The election is the first parliamentary election since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- Nearly two hundred war veterans are participating in the election.
- The Supreme Court removed the anti-war party Yabloko from the ballot.
- Yabloko candidate Grigory Grishin was detained by police for allegedly posting an extremist symbol.
- Alexei Navalny, a prominent opposition leader, died in prison in 2024.
- Grigory Melkonyants, a leader of an election monitoring group, was jailed for five years.
- The election monitoring group Golos has shut down.
- Residents expressed concerns about the war, economic pressures, and a desire for peace.
Russia's upcoming parliamentary elections, set to deliver a Duma dominated by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, are viewed by the Kremlin as a crucial opportunity to project domestic support for President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. Despite critics labeling the vote as neither free nor fair, the Kremlin asserts its own political system is valid. The election campaign has offered glimpses into Russian society, revealing concerns about the ongoing conflict, economic pressures, and a widespread desire for peace, even as the political landscape remains tightly controlled.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that Russia operates under its own political system, dismissing external criticism. The election of 450 deputies to the Duma is particularly significant as it is the first parliamentary election since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Officials indicate that nearly two hundred war veterans are participating, with the election serving to promote their political careers. However, the campaign has not been without its unusual moments, including a televised debate where candidates failed to appear, leading to the host signing off early.
All parties in the previous Duma reportedly voted in favor of laws supporting the 'special military operation,' demonstrating a unified front on key Kremlin initiatives. Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov expressed pride in this 100% agreement. While some parties may have differing ideological leanings, they generally align with the Kremlin's legislative agenda and support for the war. Parties that do not align with the war effort face significant obstacles. The anti-war party Yabloko was removed from the ballot by the Supreme Court, a move widely interpreted as a sign of Kremlin concern over anti-war sentiment resonating with voters. Despite this, some Yabloko candidates are still running in individual races, though many have faced detention and prosecution.
Yabloko candidate Grigory Grishin described the police actions as politically motivated, aimed at controlling the election's boundaries. He believes that a desire for peace is popular among Russians, which led to Yabloko's exclusion and the barring of its candidates. Grishin himself was recently questioned by police for allegedly posting an extremist symbol on his Telegram channel, referencing Alexei Navalny, a prominent opposition leader who died in prison in 2024. The Russian authorities maintain the elections are transparent and fair, a claim contested by critics who point to the imprisonment of opposition figures and election monitors, such as Grigory Melkonyants, a leader of the now-defunct election monitoring group Golos.
In towns like Dmitrov, the war is a palpable presence, with memorials to soldiers killed in Ukraine. Residents like Olga, whose son-in-law is fighting, feel the war's impact deeply. Others, like Polina, express a longing for peace and an end to drone attacks. Economic concerns are also prevalent, with a barber named Ivan highlighting rising prices and wages failing to keep pace. Grishin noted that Russian elections differ from Western ones, serving more as a signal to influence rather than a mechanism for changing government.