Russia began a three-day parliamentary election on Friday, marked by allegations of ballot tampering, restricted opposition, and voting in annexed Ukrainian territories. The vote, described by critics as a ‘sham’ election, is widely expected to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance amid wartime conditions.
Ballot irregularities reported in multiple regions
Voters in Syktyvkar were handed ballot papers with a pre-marked ‘X’ in favor of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, according to Communist Party candidate Oleg Mikhailov. Separate footage from Voronezh showed a man depositing multiple ballots into a box, while in St. Petersburg, a polling-station staff member was filmed stuffing approximately 100 ballots into a box. Multiple ballot boxes were also reported with compromised seals.
Workers from state companies and defense plants were allegedly ordered to send photos of their completed ballots to supervisors after being instructed to vote for United Russia. In the Samara region, unidentified individuals were seen leaving with ballots, and on Sakhalin Island, mobile polling stations operated without observers after being blocked from monitoring the process.
Annexed territories included in vote for first time
For the first time, residents of four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—were permitted to vote in the election, despite international non-recognition of Russia’s 2022 annexation. Russian authorities reported over 3.5 million eligible voters in these areas, where voting began earlier than in mainland Russia. In a Donetsk polling station, voters cast ballots as an armed Russian soldier stood nearby.
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance of voting in these regions, stating they would vote “for the first time since their reunification with Russia.” Soldiers involved in the conflict were also permitted to vote. The election, the first held since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is intended to demonstrate public support for the war and secure Kremlin dominance in the State Duma.
Opposition severely restricted ahead of vote
The electoral field was sharply narrowed before the election, with Russia’s Supreme Court barring the liberal Yabloko party from fielding a national list. Yabloko had been the only registered party openly opposing the war and calling for a ceasefire. Party deputy chairman Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison last month, according to reports cited by Politico. Some Yabloko candidates remain in the race for individual constituencies, but the ruling effectively removed the party from nationwide competition.
Instead, pro-Kremlin parties and war veterans dominate the ballot. Over 1,000 veterans of Russia’s war in Ukraine are running, reflecting the Kremlin’s effort to elevate military personnel as a new political constituency. United Russia’s campaign has framed the election as a demonstration of national unity and support for the war effort.
Turnout measures and early voting concerns
Voting in the annexed regions began earlier than in mainland Russia, with officials citing security reasons. In the Luhansk region, some voters reported being told they had already voted early without prior notice. Mobile polling stations in Sakhalin operated without observers after being denied access to monitor the process.
The election concludes Sunday, with results expected to reinforce United Russia’s control over the 450-seat State Duma. International observers have not been invited to monitor the process, and independent reporting on the vote remains heavily restricted.