Russia’s 2026 Duma Vote: United Russia Tightens Grip as War and Economic Strain Loom
Russia's 2026 State Duma elections saw United Russia retain and expand its constitutional majority, with no opposition parties making gains and the anti-war Yabloko party barred from the ballot. The vote, held amid the war in Ukraine and economic strain, was widely seen as predetermined, though the Kremlin invested heavily in turnout and presentation. Analysts say the result will likely reinforce the status quo, but how the Kremlin uses the mandate remains an open question.
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