In Russia, Putin urged people to vote as a show of support for the war against Ukraine
Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, the leader of the aggressor state, urged Russians to take part in the State Duma elections, linking voter turnout to support for the war against Ukraine. In a televised address ahead of the vote, he said that voters’ choice should demonstrate support for Russian military personnel and the unity of the population.
Three-day voting
As France 24 reports, elections to the lower house of the Russian parliament will begin on Friday and last for three days. Russians will elect the composition of the 450-seat State Duma, which has previously consistently approved Kremlin initiatives.
These are the first parliamentary elections in Russia since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022. According to the outlet, amid economic problems, some Russians have become more concerned about how the war affects their lives.
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A controlled political system
France 24 notes that Russia’s political system is tightly controlled, and most candidates who oppose the war were not allowed onto the ballots. The pro-government United Russia party, supported by Putin, is expected to retain its dominance in the State Duma.
In his address, Putin also mentioned the war and Ukraine’s territories temporarily occupied by Russia. He claimed that the vote would be a response to those who, he said, seek to weaken Russia, hinder its development and deprive it of the right to determine its own future.
