Lavrov and Golovin to Top United Russia's Election List

Dmitry Medvedev, chairman of Russia's ruling United Russia party and former president, said in his speech at the pre-election convention that the party's candidate list will be headed by Vladislav Golovin, a veteran of the war in Ukraine, and Yevgeny Poddubny, a war correspondent for state television.

The top five also include Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, two of Russia's most prominent and popular officials. The list also includes Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's ombudswoman for children's rights.

Public opinion polls show that the party is significantly less popular than President Vladimir Putin. Despite the difficult situation caused by the ongoing war and fuel shortages resulting from Ukrainian drone attacks, the party is likely to secure a large majority, thanks to Putin's support and a docile parliamentary opposition that generally backs the Kremlin's stance toward Ukraine.

Putin himself won a new presidential term in 2024, which will keep him in office at least until 2030.

(Reuters)