‘There are no decent parties left’: Sham elections underscore Putin’s grip on Russia - politico.eu

After a clampdown on anti-war candidates, the choices for Russian voters are even more limited than usual in this weekend’s parliamentary elections.

Copy Link Copied Share via email Share on X Share on WhatsApp Share on LinkedIn A Russian serviceman secures a polling station during Russia's parliamentary election in Donetsk on Sept. 18, 2026. | AFP via Getty Images September 18, 2026 6:54 pm CET By Daria Zakharova Russia is holding its first parliamentary elections this weekend since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — a vote that sees the opposition scrambling to give voters options in a field increasingly narrowed by the Kremlin.