Preliminary figures from Russia's Central Election Commission project 355 of the State Duma's 450 seats for United Russia. With more than 95 percent of polling stations counted, its party-list vote stood just below 58 percent. Most antiwar candidates were excluded, and voting also took place in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.
Russian Central Election Commission figures reported by Associated Press and RFE/RL project 355 of the State Duma's 450 seats for United Russia. The Duma is the lower house of Russia's parliament. The allocation announced after voting on September 18-20 remains preliminary; Associated Press said final results are due Friday. If confirmed, the result would further expand the party's supermajority in the legislature.[1], [2]
With more than 95 percent of polling stations counted, commission data put United Russia just below 58 percent of the party-list vote. Associated Press said the party was also leading in 208 of the 225 single-seat constituencies. RFE/RL gave the party-list share as nearly 58 percent. Those two tracks determine the Duma's composition: 225 proportional-representation seats and 225 constituency seats.[1], [2]
Associated Press reported that most antiwar candidates were excluded and that voting was also staged in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. RFE/RL said Yabloko, the participating party opposed to the war, was excluded and reported European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas's criticism of voting in occupied areas. Ukraine and most other countries reject Moscow's annexation claims over those territories.[1], [2]
