Putin Casts Election as Test of Support for War

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday framed the upcoming parliamentary elections as a test of support for Russia’s war in Ukraine and called on citizens to vote.

The three-day election begins on Friday and will determine the allocation of 450 seats in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, which has long approved Kremlin initiatives.

It will be the first parliamentary election since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The vote comes as polls show growing concern among some Russians about the impact of the conflict, the economy faces mounting pressure and most anti-war candidates have been barred from the ballot.

Russia’s political system remains tightly controlled, and the ruling United Russia party, backed by Putin, is widely expected to maintain its dominant position.

In a televised address, Putin referred to the war and Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, linking voting to securing Russia’s victory and demonstrating national resolve in the face of external pressure. He said the elections would show that millions of people stand behind Russian soldiers and that society is united by shared values, historical memory and love for the homeland.

Putin also described the vote as a collective response to those seeking to weaken Russia, hinder its development and deprive it of its sovereignty and the right to determine its own future.

(Reuters, bak)