52 mins ago
Russia's ruling party leads wartime election after Moscow drone strikes
Russia held an election for its lower house of parliament.
Early results showed the ruling United Russia party far ahead of other parties.
President Vladimir Putin had described the election as a test of support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
During voting, Ukraine launched many drones at Moscow and other areas.
Russian officials said people were killed and an oil refinery was damaged.
They also said cyberattacks targeted voting systems.
Critics argued that the election was not fully open because many anti-war candidates were not allowed to run.
Russian officials said the vote showed that people supported the government and remained united.
Initial results put United Russia ahead with 57.5% of the vote.
The election was held as Ukraine launched a large drone attack on Moscow and other Russian regions.
Russian officials said the strikes killed three people in the Moscow region and two in Russian-held Kherson.
Voting systems faced cyberattacks, while authorities said the electoral process remained mostly smooth.
Critics said the tightly controlled vote excluded most anti-war candidates, while Kremlin officials presented it as evidence of national unity.
- Who
- United Russia, Russian voters, Russian officials, opposition parties, and Ukrainian forces were involved.
- What
- Russia held a parliamentary election in which United Russia led the initial results after drone and cyberattacks.
- Where
- The election was held across Russia; drone strikes hit Moscow, the Moscow region, other Russian regions, and Russian-held Kherson.
- When
- Voting took place on Sunday, September 20, with partial results released during the election.
- Why
- The Kremlin presented the election as a test of support for Vladimir Putin's policies and the war in Ukraine.
Russian Authorities
Critics and Ukraine
Meaning of the election
Russian Authorities
Russian officials said the result demonstrated public unity and support for the government and its policies.
Critics and Ukraine
Critics described the political system as tightly controlled, and Ukraine called the vote a pseudo-election.
Effect of the drone strikes
Russian Authorities
Russian officials said Ukraine intended to disrupt the election but failed, and said the attacks would prompt stronger Russian strikes.
Critics and Ukraine
The article reports Ukraine launched the attacks but does not provide a Ukrainian explanation for their timing or purpose.
Opposition participation
Russian Authorities
Authorities allowed parties including the Communist Party, LDPR, New People, and Just Russia to compete for parliamentary seats.
Critics and Ukraine
Opposition figures and analysts said most anti-war candidates were barred, leaving voters with limited choices and potentially directing protest votes to permitted opposition parties.
Key facts
- Leading party
- United Russia
- Initial vote share
- 57.5% for United Russia
- Reported turnout
- Nearly 57% by early evening Moscow time
- Election body
- Russia's Central Election Commission
- Reported deaths
- Three in the Moscow region and two in Russian-held Kherson
- Other parties mentioned
- The Communist Party, LDPR, New People, Just Russia, and Yabloko
- Voting disruptions
- Drone strikes and waves of cyberattacks were reported
Quotes
Sergei Sobyanin
Mayor of Moscow
“The biggest attack by enemy drones has been repelled. This unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy did not succeed.”
theprint.in
“The more pressure they put on us, the more we are seeing an unprecedented level of what I would call public unity”
theprint.in
Sources
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