Pro-Putin party set to win Russian election without real opposition

NEW YORK – Thousands of Russians living abroad rallied at embassies and consulates around the world to protest the country’s first parliamentary elections since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and demand an end to the war.

The election, devoid of any real opposition, was manufactured by the Kremlin in an effort to demonstrate broad support for the war, which is now in its fifth year. United Russia, the governing party closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin, is said to have won roughly 50% in a widely expected result, according to exit polls.

The vote was the first to feature the participation of residents living in four Ukrainian regions that were illegally annexed by Russia shortly after the start of the invasion in 2022. A spokesperson for the European Commission said on Sept. 18 that it was a violation of international law to hold voting in the regions occupied by Russia.

Yabloko, the only political party to campaign on a pro-peace platform, was barred from participating in the election by Russia’s Supreme Court. Without a real opposition to vote for, some Russian opposition activists encouraged their supporters to vote for any party other than United Russia. Others advocated for boycotting…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/