Russia is holding parliamentary elections with little doubt about the outcome: the pro-Kremlin United Russia party is expected to retain its dominance. But with the vote taking place more than four years into the war in Ukraine, the election carries symbolic importance for President Vladimir Putin. Analysts say the Kremlin will use the result to demonstrate public support for the government and its military campaign, even as economic pressures, Ukrainian strikes inside Russia and signs of growing war fatigue test public sentiment. The podcast examines how the election is being managed, why anti-war voices have largely been excluded from the ballot, and what turnout, margins of victory and voter coercion may reveal about the state of Russian socie
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TRANSCRIPT
It is an election where the result is known before the ballots are counted.
‘United Russia’ - fiercely loyal to Vladimir Putin - will again be the big winner.
That’s not to say the vote to determine who sits in the Russian parliament, or Duma, isn’t important to the President.
It is.
Because It’s the first since his War on Ukraine began.
Nikolai Petrov is a Russian political analyst, and was an advisor to the Kremlin in the early nineties.
“Not so much are these elections about composition of the state duma, it’s more or less predefined, it’s about keeping the image that society is consolidated around the Kremlin.”
Voting is taking place in Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, as well as Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions... another attempt to try and legitimise the occupation.
In Russia itself… Kyiv’s strikes on oil and gas facilities… as well as the warehouses of online retailers… have brought the conflict home…
… the economy is under increasing strain…
… and discontent is quietly rising.
“I’d like to see some changes. To see a different party."
"What do you mean, a different party?"
"Well, a different party. Not the one which is currently ruling.”
But there are few options for voters seeking change.
Yobloko, the vocally pro-ceasefire party which had gained popularity through social media, was banned from running by the Supreme Court.
Some individual Yobloko candidates are contesting seats at great personal risk - several have been detained by police.
But they’re determined to have their voices heard
Polina Lermant is one of them.
“It is very important for us now to tell people that they have an opportunity to vote for peace right now, to express their political position and say that we choose peace, that we choose a life free from fear, that we want our interests to be taken into account, and that we want Russia to prosper, develop and be at peace with everyone.”
Polls suggest there is increasing support for peace talks, but the Kremlin will use the Duma results to claim the vast majority of voters still back the President and therefore his war.
Much has been made of veterans of the conflict running as candidates, like Vladislav Golovin, who the Kremlin has been keen to promote.
“I am working not just for myself, but for the guys I couldn't protect or save.”
Yet the consequences of the 4 and a half years of fighting have hardly been discussed during the campaign.
“It’s kind of an elephant in the room, if you look at the United Russia and other parties programme, you’ll never see anything about the war.”
All 10 parties on the ballot support the war… and that suits many voters just fine.
“I think what United Russia and the communists are doing is quite sufficient; their platforms cover everything.”
United Russia will win.
The real story will be in the turnout… the margin of victory… and the level of coercion.
This content was created by SBS News journalists. Some voiceovers of translated interviews in this podcast series were assisted by AI. Read more about SBS's use of AI.
