Russians go to polls against backdrop of Ukraine war and Putin’s tightening grip

<p>President’s United Russia party faces no meaningful opposition after liberal anti-war party barred from ballot</p><p>Russians are going to the polls to elect a new State Duma in a tightly controlled vote stripped of meaningful competition and with little doubt about the result.</p><p>Vladimir Putin’s United Russia is expected to extend the grip on parliament it has held for 23 years, alongside a handful of nominal opposition parties that reliably vote with the Kremlin on the issues that matter. The three-day vote begins on Friday, with results expected after polls close on Sunday.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/russia-parliament-election-duma-putin">Continue reading...</a>