Russia Begins Wartime Parliamentary Election Amid International Condemnation
Russia launched a three-day parliamentary election on Friday, the first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The vote includes residents of illegally annexed Ukrainian regions and Crimea, drawing sharp criticism from Kyiv and the European Union as illegal. Domestic opposition has been largely suppressed, with President Vladimir Putin urging citizens to demonstrate unity behind Russian fighters.
Russians began three days of voting on Friday in their first wartime parliamentary election, a process expected to cement Kremlin power. Approximately 111 million eligible voters are participating in the election for the 450 seats in the State Duma.
For the first time, the ballot included residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed, as well as those in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. This inclusion has drawn immediate condemnation from international bodies. Kyiv denounced the voting in Russian-held areas as illegal and warned Ukrainians that participating in organizing the balloting could carry criminal liability.
European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand labeled the elections in occupied territories "sham elections" and a blatant violation of international law, stating that the EU will not recognize them. Additionally, Russia did not invite observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Domestically, political dissent has been significantly curtailed. The liberal Yabloko party was removed from the ballot by Russia's Supreme Court last month, leaving it with only a few dozen candidates in single-seat constituencies. Other dissenters have been imprisoned or exiled. United Russia is expected to retain overwhelming control of the State Duma, while smaller systemic opposition parties are also expected to keep their presence.
President Vladimir Putin voted online on Friday, stating that the choice would demonstrate unity behind Russian fighters. The election takes place against a backdrop of domestic economic strain, following summer drone strikes by Ukraine on Russian oil refineries and warehouses belonging to Wildberries and Ozon, which caused a fuel crisis.