In Russia, Putin’s party surpasses 57% after 20% of votes counted

These initial results position United Russia to maintain its dominance in the State Duma, marking the first parliamentary election since the onset of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Final results are not expected to be announced until the completion of the national count, which is anticipated in the coming days.

At this stage, five parties have crossed the 5% threshold necessary to secure seats through proportional representation. In addition to United Russia and the Communist Party, the LDPR is around 9.3%, New People is approximately 7.9%, and Just Russia is close to 5.1%. Voter turnout was nearly 57% at the close of polling stations.

Voters were renewing all 450 seats in the State Duma for a five-year term. Half of the deputies are elected from national party lists through proportional representation, while the other half are elected from single-member districts.

The election took place in a heavily controlled political environment. The liberal Yabloko party, which opposes the war in Ukraine, was excluded from the national list, while several anti-war figures have been imprisoned, prosecuted, or forced into exile. The parties represented in the outgoing Duma have largely supported the Kremlin’s main policies.

Voting was also conducted in Ukrainian territories occupied and claimed by Moscow. Ukraine and the European Union condemned the organization of the election in these areas, which they consider to be Ukrainian under international law.

Vladimir Putin had framed these legislative elections as a test of popular support for the course taken since the beginning of the war. The final day of voting coincided with a massive drone attack on Moscow and its region, with no general interruption of the voting process announced by Russian authorities.