Russia elects new State Duma on September 18–20
From September 18 to 20, Russia is holding three-day elections for all 450 State Duma deputies. These are the first parliamentary elections since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The ruling United Russia is expected to retain a dominant majority.
Sources
· 8В России с пятницы пройдут трёхдневные выборы в Госдуму
1Россия проведёт первые с начала вторжения в Украину парламентские выборы 18-20 сентября
2Россия проведёт первые с начала вторжения в Украину выборы в Госдуму 18 сентября
3В России 18-20 сентября пройдут парламентские выборы с доминированием «Единой России»
4Московский суд отстранил антивоенную партию «Яблоко» от сентябрьских выборов
5Верховный суд рассмотрит иск партии «Родина» о снятии «Яблока» с выборов 10 августа
6Россия просит посольства запретить акции в дни выборов в Госдуму
7Верховный суд России отклонил апелляцию «Яблока» на снятие с выборов
8Key points
- Voting for 450 State Duma seats takes place over three days — from Friday, September 18, to Sunday, September 20.
- Half of the deputies are elected from party lists, and the remaining 225 from single-mandate constituencies; electronic voting is allowed.
- Gubernatorial elections in 11 regions and legislative assembly elections in 39 regions will be held simultaneously.
- A Moscow court earlier removed the anti-war Yabloko party from the ballot, and the Supreme Court rejected its appeal on August 17.
What happened
The State Duma elections on September 18–20 are Russia's first nationwide parliamentary elections since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Voters will elect 450 deputies for a five-year term; half the seats are allocated according to nationwide party lists, and the remaining 225 in single-mandate constituencies. The three-day voting is intended to increase turnout among 111 million voters; alongside traditional polling stations, electronic voting is allowed. Gubernatorial elections in 11 regions and legislative assembly elections in 39 regions will take place simultaneously.
Why it matters
Analysts see the election as a plebiscite on the war and a test of the Kremlin's ability to maintain the appearance of legitimacy. The Kremlin expects the ruling United Russia to win a dominant majority.
Who's affected
The only anti-war party, Yabloko, was removed from the ballot following a lawsuit by the Rodina party. The Supreme Court rejected Yabloko's appeal on August 17; the same day, a court in Pskov sentenced deputy party chairman Lev Shlosberg to more than 11 years in prison under an article targeting critics of the war in Ukraine.
Previously
- A Moscow court barred Yabloko from the September State Duma elections following a lawsuit by the pro-Kremlin Rodina party.
- Russia's Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for August 10 in the Rodina party's lawsuit to remove Yabloko from the ballot.
- Russia sent notes to foreign diplomatic missions asking them to ban demonstrations near embassies on election days.
Related original articles
- 18h agoВ России с пятницы пройдут трёхдневные выборы в ГосдумуAl Jazeera English
- 3d agoРоссия проведёт первые с начала вторжения в Украину парламентские выборы 18-20 сентябряCumhuriyet
- 3d agoРоссия проведёт первые с начала вторжения в Украину выборы в Госдуму 18 сентябряRFE/RL Central Asia