Putin's party secures record score in Russia election
Summary
Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party has secured a record supermajority in the Duma after a tightly controlled parliamentary election. The vote was held amid the war in Ukraine, bans on criticism of the Kremlin’s military campaign, and condemnation from Western officials.
Key Points
- United Russia won 355 of the Duma’s 450 seats, giving Vladimir Putin’s party an even larger supermajority.
- The election was held under tight control, with opposition voices and critics of the war in Ukraine largely excluded.
- Electoral chief Ella Pamfilova said turnout exceeded 59 percent and praised voters despite what she called psychological pressure.
- Western officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, condemned the vote as a sham election.
