Kremlin says election results show strong support for Putin

The Kremlin has stated that the results of Russia’s recent parliamentary elections demonstrate voters’ continued support for President Vladimir Putin, after the United Russia party, led by Putin, achieved a record victory in the State Duma, according to preliminary results.

Ella Pamfilova, head of the election commission, announced on Monday that the ruling party secured 355 out of 450 seats in the lower house of parliament, surpassing its previous record set in 2016.

With nearly all votes counted after the three-day election, United Russia is set to hold more than a two-thirds majority.

Absence of opposition and expanded voting

According to Agence France-Presse, no party opposing the war in Ukraine was allowed to participate in these elections, the first since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Voting also took place in Ukrainian regions occupied and later annexed by Russia.

US sanctions and their impact

In a related context, the Kremlin noted it has found ways to limit the impact of US sanctions imposed on Russia.

It added that sanctions introduced by former US President Donald Trump’s administration would hinder efforts to achieve peace with Ukraine.