Russia's first parliamentary elections since the start of the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered their third and final day on Sunday. The three-day voting process, which began on Friday, has been framed by President Vladimir Putin as a test of public support for the war.
The ruling United Russia party is expected to maintain its dominance and secure an overwhelming victory. Critics describe the political system as one that does not tolerate dissent, noting that the vote was tightly controlled by the Kremlin and virtually devoid of genuine opposition to President Putin's policies.
For the first time, the election included residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed after the invasion began more than 4 1/2 years ago. Voting was held in these regions despite the fact that Moscow still does not fully control them.