Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to retain his political dominance, with the ruling United Russia Party leading the country’s first parliamentary elections since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Initial figures released by Russia’s Central Election Commission showed the United Russia Party leading in most single-seat races. With about 58% of precincts counted, the party bagged nearly 58 per cent of the party-list vote.
The voter turnout was recorded at 56.66% when polling closed on Sunday, according to the election commission. Over 111 million Russians were eligible to exercise their voting rights.
The election also covered Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, including parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, as well as Crimea. Ukraine, however, rejects claims over these territories.
Kremlin To Retain Power
The United Russia Party has dominated the 450-seat State Duma, the Russian Parliament, since Putin assumed office in 2021 after winning 324 seats.
