Kremlin party "United Russia" declared winner of elections

In Russia, parliamentary elections took place, won by the ruling party "United Russia." This was announced after approximately half of the votes were counted. Reports suggest that the party is expected to secure a two-thirds majority, allowing it to continue governing.

According to a statement from the news agency Interfax and the Kremlin-critical newspaper "Novaya Gazeta," "United Russia" managed to win around 309 out of 450 seats in the State Duma in the initial results. This number exceeds the required minimum to achieve constitutional majorities.

The elections were held for the first time since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine and were controversial among critics. The opposition party "Yabloko" was excluded from the vote, raising concerns about the fairness of the electoral process. Critics label the voting as a farce.

Although violent incidents were reported during the election, the Kremlin sees itself as the winner of the vote. Official reports highlight the achievements of the Kremlin party, while accounts of electoral fraud and intimidation are pushed aside.

Some voices from the opposition and independent media point to issues during the election and report irregularities, calling into question the credibility of the results. However, these critical voices are not reflected in official reports.

Overall, the election has drawn significant attention in the context of the war in Ukraine, while the Kremlin continues to assert its control over the political processes in the country. The government has portrayed the elections as a means to demonstrate its stability, while the reality on the ground is largely ignored.