World
Legislative elections in Russia: High voter turnout despite conflicts
Russia is holding legislative elections, with a 56% turnout and severe attacks from Kyiv during the voting process.
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Legislative elections are underway in Russia, with the first day of voting seeing a turnout of 56%, higher than the 51.7% recorded in 2021. This is the first vote for the State Duma since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in 2022. Voters have the option to choose between paper ballots and electronic voting.
The ruling party, United Russia, which supports President Putin, is expected to maintain its dominance in the elections, which are scheduled to last three days. Analysts had predicted a landslide victory for United Russia, with sources reporting an anticipated vote share of around 57.31%. Despite this forecast, the elections are taking place in a particularly difficult context marked by ongoing military attacks.
According to reports, on the final day of voting, Moscow experienced heavy attacks from Ukrainian drones. Reports indicate that the capital's air defense shot down approximately 1,600 drones and that bombings struck civilian targets, causing damage to infrastructure and the death of three people. The situation has further complicated the electoral process, creating long lines at polling stations and leading to disputes over some ballots.
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The legislative elections are also characterized by a state budget deficit, which has reached 5.79 trillion rubles as of August, while oil export revenues are declining and the cost of living continues to rise. This critical economic backdrop could influence the public's response to the competing parties, particularly the ruling party.
Additionally, over a thousand cyberattacks against election-related infrastructures have been reported. These incidents have raised concerns regarding the security of the electoral process and the legitimacy of the results, with the opposition party Yabloko excluded from the competition. Meanwhile, citizens are facing broader hardships due to the ongoing conflict and economic pressure.
As elections are taking place in Russia, tensions between Moscow and Kyiv are escalating, with ongoing Ukrainian attacks during the electoral period. This complex scenario highlights the challenges the country is facing at a time of great political and social uncertainty.