Russia Election

Early results from Russia’s first wartime parliamentary election, released by the country’s election commission, show the main Kremlin party dominating the vote. The tightly controlled balloting was virtually devoid of opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s policies and all but certain to cement the Kremlin’s dominance. With some 58% of the precincts counted, United Russia had nearly 58% of the vote for the 225 deputies apportioned by party lists, according to the Central Election Commission. Another 225 lawmakers will be chosen in single-seat races, and United Russia also was poised to win most of those.

Election officials say the Kremlin's main party has retained its majority in Russia’s parliament. That result came after three days of carefully orchestrated balloting — the first election since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine 4 1/2 years ago. Results released Monday by the country's Central Election Commission indicate that United Russia will get a record high 355 out of 450 seats in the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament. Most opposition candidates were excluded from the election as the Kremlin tightened its crackdown in Russian politics during the war. Voting also was held in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and authorities in Kyiv denounced it, urging other countries not to recognize it.