Russians began voting on the final day of parliamentary elections, with the ruling United Russia party expected to win. The elections, which started on Friday, September 17, 2026, and concluded on Sunday, September 20, 2026, saw a significant turnout. The voting process was marred by allegations of cyberattacks and attempts to disrupt the process.
The ruling United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin's policies, is expected to win the elections. The party has won all parliamentary elections since 2003. Other parties, including the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and A Just Russia, are also participating in the elections.
The elections are being closely watched, as they are the first parliamentary elections in Russia since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has resulted in a significant number of casualties and has had a profound impact on Russia's relations with the West. President Putin has urged citizens to vote, saying it will show support for the military.
The opposition has called for supporters to vote against the ruling party. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, urged Russians to vote against United Russia. However, some opposition parties, including the Yabloko party, have opposed this strategy, calling for a boycott of the elections instead.
The voting process has been disrupted by cyberattacks and attempts to sabotage the elections. According to the Russian election commission, the country's electronic voting system was subjected to powerful cyberattacks. Additionally, there have been reports of voting irregularities and attempts to disrupt the process.
The elections are also being seen as a test of public support for President Putin's policies. The president has denied plans to launch a new wave of military mobilization, but many Russians are concerned about the economic impact of the conflict. Some voters have expressed concerns about the state of the economy and the impact of sanctions.
The results of the elections are expected to be announced soon. The ruling United Russia party is expected to win, but the outcome will be closely watched for signs of public support for President Putin's policies. The elections have been closely monitored by international observers, who have raised concerns about the voting process.
Key points
- The ruling United Russia party is expected to win the parliamentary elections.
- The elections have been marred by allegations of cyberattacks and attempts to disrupt the process.
- The outcome of the elections will be closely watched for signs of public support for President Putin's policies.
