Russia’s parliamentary vote features no real opposition to Putin's policies

Russia’s parliamentary election features the Kremlin's main party, United Russia, and nine others that all support President Vladimir Putin’s policies. The only party that dared to oppose the war in Ukraine has been barred from the ballot. The absence of genuine opposition all but assures the Kremlin will keep tight control of the Russian political scene amid mounting economic costs and increasing Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and online retailers.

Those drone strikes have made Russians feel the pain from the war more than 4½ years after its start. The Kremlin wants the election — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 — to underline public support for the war and give a veneer of legitimacy to its action. It has sought to avoid any political risks by stamping out even the slightest sign of dissent.

Here’s what to know about the election and its main parties: Three days of voting take place Starting Friday and lasting through Sunday, Russians will elect members of the lower house, the State Duma. They also will cast ballots in local elections. Voters in 11 regions will elect their governors, and 39 regions will elect members of regional legislatures.

The balloting is spread over three days in a bid to boost turnout among the 111 million eligible voters and includes areas that Russia illegally annexed in Ukraine. Half of the Duma’s 450 seats are filled by party lists and the other half are contested in single-ballot races. The main Kremlin party, United Russia, is set to retain its overwhelming control of the Duma, while other “systemic opposition” parties that vote in sync with the government on all key issues also are expected to retain their presence.

The liberal Yabloko Party, the only registered political party that opposes the war, initially was on the ballot but the Supreme Court in August ordered it removed. It cited, among other reasons, that the anti-war stance was akin to seeking the violation of Russia’s territorial integrity. Yabloko now only has candidates in single-ballot races.

United Russia controls two-thirds of the Duma United Russia, whose symbol is a bear prowling beneath the Russian tricolor, won more than two-thirds of the Duma’s seats in the 2021 election. It is again poised to dominate the body. Even amid growing public fatigue, recession and stagnating living standards, the m…