All articles tagged with #united russia
Early results from Russia’s parliamentary elections show United Russia leading with about 57.86% of the vote and an initial 225 seats, as 90% of ballots are counted and turnout is around 57%. Other parties trail but are projected to win seats, and many antiwar candidates have been sidelined in a tightly controlled vote that includes voters in annexed regions; final results are expected later in the week.
Early results show the Kremlin-backed United Russia on course to win Russia’s first wartime parliamentary election, with about 58% of party-list votes and turnout around 56.7%, as the Kremlin seeks to legitimize its Ukraine war. The vote occurred amid Ukrainian drone strikes and cyberattacks, with opposition weakened by bans and arrests; observers were not invited, and the party is likely to hold a dominant share of both party-list and single-seat seats in the State Duma.
Russia’s parliamentary elections produced no surprises, with United Russia on track to secure a constitutional majority in the State Duma in a tightly controlled system; Yabloko, the sole anti-war party, was disqualified from the ballot, though some candidates remained in local races, signaling continued Kremlin influence. The Kremlin is likely to frame the result as broad public support for Putin’s policies and the war, while mobilization fears persist, though Putin has said no new mobilization for now.
Russia’s United Russia party, aligned with Vladimir Putin, is on track to win a tightly controlled wartime parliamentary election, with early data showing a lead around 57.5% and turnout about 56.7%. Putin is not on the ballot and opposition is largely sidelined, with observers citing restrictions and arrests. The Kremlin will frame the results as a mandate in support of its war in Ukraine, while final results aren’t tallied until September 25. Voting spanned Russia’s 11 time zones, with reports of electronic voting outages and intense security measures.
Russia’s ruling United Russia looks set to win a parliamentary majority in a tightly controlled vote, running ahead with about 57.5% of official results as Ukraine launched a large drone attack on Moscow; opposition candidates face bans, turnout nears 57%, and authorities claim unity while Kyiv is accused of trying to disrupt the elections.
Russia's parliamentary election heads into its final day with the Kremlin framing it as a test of support for the war in Ukraine; United Russia is expected to dominate, while most anti-war candidates have been barred and authorities warn jail terms for discrediting the army or spreading what they call fake news. The Kremlin asserts national unity and some censorship are necessary, Kyiv calls the vote a pseudo-election, and initial results are expected around 18:00 GMT as cyberattack reports and war-time tensions cloud the outcome.
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry announced an indefinite entry ban on Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, adding him to the country’s persona non grata list after his appearance in a United Russia campaign video. The move, waved through by Foreign Minister Baiba Braže and tied to Latvia’s long-standing stance against Kremlin influence, follows other sanctions on Ovechkin by Ukraine and is noted as unusually rare for an active NHL player. Umar Kremlev, a Russian ally of Putin, was also named on the list in the same announcement.
Russian hockey star Alexander Ovechkin appears in a United Russia campaign video backing Putin, raising questions about his claim of not being in politics and sparking debate over the political implications for the Capitals, the NHL, and fans.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who turned 41, defended his appearance in a United Russia campaign video, saying he is Russian and supports his country and, as he added, peace and love.
Russia votes Fri–Sun to elect the 450-seat State Duma and regional offices—the first parliamentary ballot since the 2022 invasion—with United Russia expected to dominate as opposition is largely sidelined; parties such as the Communists, Liberal Democrats, and A Just Russia are on the ballot, while Yabloko was blocked. The vote, conducted over three days with electronic balloting, is watched as a barometer of Kremlin support amid a slowing economy and ongoing war.
Russian hockey star Alexander Ovechkin said he had no hesitation participating in a campaign video for Russia’s ruling United Russia party ahead of parliamentary elections, declaring, “I’m Russian, and I support my country,” and expressing hope for peace; the ad features Kremlin figures like Sergei Lavrov alongside Vladimir Putin and has sparked backlash from U.S. lawmakers and Latvia, which declared both Ovechkin and oligarch Umar Kremlev persona non grata.
Russians cast a tightly controlled three-day State Duma vote, with United Russia expected to extend its grip as opposition parties are sidelined and campaigning is muted amid the war in Ukraine and fears of a possible mobilization after the election.
Even with a likely win for Putin’s United Russia in the 2026 parliamentary elections, the real story will be the margin, turnout, and level of coercion. The Kremlin tightens control over candidates, observers are limited, and a three‑day, partly online vote obscures manipulation. Recall of Navalny’s movement and the planned use of protest voting through “Smart Vote” could signal domestic discontent, making turnout and margins the true indicators of public support for the war.
Russia is heading into parliamentary elections with far fewer political options and tighter controls: United Russia is expected to win a constitutional majority, while many opposition groups and candidates have been barred or sidelined, including Yabloko from the party-list ballot. The number of legally registered parties and candidates has declined, and voting in occupied Ukrainian regions plus three days of voting with some electronic balloting raise concerns about manipulation. Analysts describe the system as electoral authoritarian, where real competition is eroded and public interest appears tepid.
NHL star Alexander Ovechkin appears in a United Russia campaign video backing Vladimir Putin ahead of Russia’s parliamentary elections, highlighting the ongoing use of celebrity athletes for domestic political messaging; the Capitals say his participation was requested by Russia and note he has stepped back from politics since the 2022 invasion.