The war on the Ukrainian front has entered a new, constantly accelerating phase; however, domestically in Russia, citizens are called to vote for the new State Duma, local parliaments, and regional administrations. Starting today, Friday 18 to 20 September, three electoral procedures are taking place:
-
for the election of deputies to the 9th State Duma,
-
for the parliaments of 39 regions, as well as for top officials and administrations of the regions of the Russian Federation. In 8 regions the process is direct, and in 3 it takes place through election by regional parliaments. In total, approximately 23,000 parliamentary and administrative seats are up for election. The major change is that, in this grand electoral process, the residents of the Donbass and Novorossiya regions (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson) are participating for the first time. With the participation of the regions of Donbass and Novorossiya for the first time in federal parliamentary elections, the Kremlin seeks to send a message of complete integration of the new territories and political stability.
The X-ray of the 10 participating parties and the balance of power
Ten approved parties are participating in the federal ballot, the majority of which form the so-called "systemic opposition," maintaining complete alignment with the Kremlin's foreign policy:
United Russia
The governing party and the country's main political force. It controls the absolute majority in the State Duma and serves as the political vehicle of Vladimir Putin, with a central campaign slogan calling for unity around the state.
Communist Party of the Russian Federation
Traditionally the second political force. It maintains a strong base among older demographics and Soviet Union nostalgics, while exercising limited criticism on socio-economic issues without challenging the central line of the Kremlin.
Liberal Democratic Party
Following the death of its founder Vladimir Zhirinovsky, this nationalist and populist party is struggling to maintain third place, relying on aggressive anti-capitalist and anti-Western rhetoric.
New People
The newest party in parliament targeting the middle class, entrepreneurs, and younger voters, promoting a systemic version of modernization.
A Just Russia
Social democratic on paper, but with strongly patriotic and chauvinistic rhetoric, it fully supports Moscow's military choices.
Smaller parties
Factions such as the Russian Party of Pensioners for Social Justice, the Communists of Russia, Rodina, the ecological Greens, and the Party of Direct Democracy operate mainly as supplementary forces to disperse the vote.
The real stakes of the ballot box
Behind the distribution of the 23,000 seats, the election stakes are condensed into three critical axes: For Moscow, high voter turnout and a broad victory for United Russia serve as confirmation of popular support for the leadership's policy. Holding elections in Donbas and Novorossiya is used as a tool to legitimize the new territorial status within Russia. By holding elections in 39 regions and electing local leaders, the Kremlin ensures that regional administration remains completely controlled and aligned with central authority.
Zakharova accuses West of organized plan to sabotage Russian elections
Official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova launched heavy accusations against Western countries, alleging that a broad campaign is underway aiming to invalidate and overturn the electoral process of Russian citizens. She revealed that the Russian diplomatic corps is on high alert, maintaining 24-hour communication with all the country's diplomatic missions abroad to manage the situation.
Cyber sabotage and attempts to block the ballot box
According to the diplomat's statements to the TASS agency, Western interventions include both the systematic dissemination of misleading information and attempts to manipulate electronic voting systems. The goal of these actions is not to allow citizens to elect their representatives, but to block the electoral process itself and turn the expressed will of the people into a guided fraud, Maria Zakharova stressed, pointing out that calls for such cyber sabotage are now overwhelming.
Russian embassies on alert for the critical voting day
The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry assured that authorities are closely monitoring developments, noting that in certain regions abroad, the voting process has already partially begun. At the same time, she underlined that diplomatic services are finalizing their preparations for the decisive day of the election to ensure the smooth running of the process despite external pressures.
The 5 most interesting points so far
-
First time elections in the occupied regions of Ukraine: Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson.
-
Maria Zakharova and the Russian ambassador to Germany (Sergey Nechaev) denounce that the West is trying to block or "torpedo" the vote. They report that in Germany, only one polling station was permitted (inside the embassy in Berlin).
-
"Pressure" on the electronic voting system (DEG) In Moscow, within the first 8 minutes, 100,000 people voted electronically, causing the system to enter an "electronic queue" mode due to excessive traffic.
-
In the Anadyr region of Chukotka, first-time voters receive gifts of "designer clothing" and accessories (thermos, scarf, sweatshirt).
-
Voting even from space A message of support and encouragement was published by Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Readers’ Comments