Russia’s Election Outlook
Russia is pressing ahead with its State Duma vote on September 20 amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) reports that Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova has registered 1,586 candidates—including veterans and active participants in the fight against Ukraine—for ballots at various levels. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, meanwhile, has said 72.6% of current deputies plan to run for the ninth convocation.
Because these elections are being held in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the CCD stresses that the results will have no legal force. The center also warns of preparations for mass vote manipulation. It says the Russian presidential administration has set a target turnout above 65–70% in occupied areas of Ukraine, and United Russia has been instructed to win no less than 70% of the vote.
Information Push and Its Ramifications
Occupying administrations in the temporarily occupied territories have launched an information campaign promoting Kremlin narratives. As the CCD puts it,
“This perfectly reveals the true nature of the Kremlin’s ‘power renewal.’ New people, especially loyal veterans of the war against Ukraine, are ostentatiously brought into the system to create a picture of personnel change, while the bulk of the current political leadership quietly returns to its deputy seats.”
The CCD emphasizes:
“Russia is conducting them in temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine, so the voting results will not carry any legal force.”That situation raises serious doubts about the legitimacy of the process and the risk of falsification.
With an active war raging in the territories where voting is planned, democratic procedures are likely to be badly distorted and international standards ignored. Since the outcome is not recognized as legitimate, the very idea of honest, transparent elections under occupation comes under question. The international community’s reaction may also shape what happens next in the region.