Russia's ruling party, United Russia, has emerged as the winner of the country's parliamentary elections, securing 57.5% of the votes after 71% of ballots were counted. The Communist Party came in second with 14%, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia with 8.7%. The final results and voter turnout are expected to be announced on Monday. United Russia's victory paves the way for the party to push through constitutional amendments.
The elections, which took place over three days from September 18 to 20, were the first parliamentary polls since Russia's large-scale war in Ukraine began in 2022. The voting process was marred by reports of cyberattacks targeting Russia's voting systems and infrastructure. Russian authorities claimed to have successfully repelled the attacks. On the final day of voting, Moscow and surrounding areas came under drone attacks from Ukraine, resulting in casualties and damage to several facilities.
According to Russian authorities, over 1,600 drones were shot down, including around 450 heading towards Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of attempting to influence the election process, while Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, stated that the attack aimed to disrupt the elections. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for launching drone attacks on Russian territory as part of the ongoing war between the two countries.
The parliamentary elections were held to select members of Russia's lower house, the State Duma, which comprises 450 seats. Half of the members are elected through party lists, while the other half are chosen from single-mandate constituencies. The elections took place amid Russia's continued war in Ukraine and strict limitations on opposition voices critical of the war.
Many anti-war candidates were barred from participating in the elections, while some opposition parties were allowed to participate. Russian authorities claim that the measures taken are based on electoral laws, but critics argue that they restricted competition in the elections. United Russia has maintained its majority in the State Duma in previous elections, and this vote represents the first national parliamentary test since the start of the Ukraine war.
The Kremlin views the election results as a reflection of public support for its policies, while others argue that the limited political competition makes it necessary to consider the electoral environment when interpreting the results. The outcome of the elections grants United Russia a two-thirds majority in the State Duma, enabling the party to pass constitutional amendments.
The elections were closely watched as a test of the Russian government's support amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The results also come as Russia faces increased international scrutiny and criticism over its actions in Ukraine. The international community will likely be monitoring Russia's future moves, both domestically and internationally, in light of the election results.
Key points
- United Russia secured 57.5% of the votes, allowing it to maintain a two-thirds majority in the State Duma.
- The elections were the first parliamentary polls since Russia's large-scale war in Ukraine began in 2022.
- The voting process was marred by reports of cyberattacks and drone attacks from Ukraine.
