Putin’s Electoral Theatre: Past, Present and Future
On 8-10 September 2023, Russia held local elections in two dozen different regions. The Kremlin could have easily canceled them by declaring martial law. Instead, elections were held in the newly occupied areas of Ukraine despite martial law. This suggests that Putin’s regime still finds sham elections useful.
This essay provides a brief history of elections in post-Soviet Russia, exploring the latest example of the Kremlin’s sham democracy and sketches the prospects of political changes.
Read more … Putin’s Electoral Theatre: Past, Present and Future
What Are the Opportunities for the Opposition in Russian Elections?
The electoral and civil rights legislation in Russia is getting stricter year by year, leaving very little room for oppositional politics. What can opponents of the regime achieve in the face of constantly introduced obstacles?
In this article, we reflect on whether there is any room left for opposition politicians in Russia, and if it makes sense for them to participate in elections at all.
Read more … What Are the Opportunities for the Opposition in Russian Elections?
Spoilers and Doppelgängers in Russian Elections
The practice of nominating namesake candidates or similar-looking candidates is widely used in Russian elections.
In this article, we explain how this electoral technology works to mislead the voter and pull votes away from the opposition.
What Are the Specifics of Russian Parliamentarism?
Do elections have any value in a country with strong repressive machinery where any politician whom the authorities may consider dangerous can be placed in jail?
The author of this article is convinced that elections in Russia present not only a high-cost ritual spectacle simulating democracy but also largely shape the interaction between the state and society.
Keep reading to find out more.
Read more … What Are the Specifics of Russian Parliamentarism?
A Slow Death of Municipal Autonomy in Russia
This article delves into the process of elimination of municipal autonomy from the 2010s to the present, leading us through a series of reforms that have helped Kremlin build the so-called ‘power vertical’.
A gradual transition from weak, but somewhat independent local governance toward loyal local appointees contributes to our understanding of how political decision-making works in high-capacity authoritarian states like Russia.
If There Is Putin, There Are No Debates
This year, Khakassia emerged as the sole Russian region where its governor, communist Valentin Konovalov, invited his adversary, Sergey Sokol from United Russia, to a debate. While the audience hoped for a substantive political exchange, the discourse was dominated by accusations of mudslinging and chasing hype.
This article explores how debates in modern Russia have changed, why gubernatorial candidates avoid open discussions with opponents, and what the future holds for debates.
Why the war did not become the main topic of the election campaign
In the past, parties and candidates would offer distinct promises to voters, address social concerns, and even position themselves against the government. However, the current campaigns appear lackluster and devoid of a clear message. Even the topic of war is scarcely touched upon by the primary candidates.
This REM review explores why the war in Ukraine hasn't emerged as the predominant topic of the recent election campaign.
Read more … Why the war did not become the main topic of the election campaign
Voting under bullets and shells
Holding elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine on 8-10 September is a daunting task for the Russian authorities.
This long read explores how the ongoing military actions affect election preparations and how the Kremlin is making sure that there are no surprises.
The Just Russia party distances itself from regional elections following the Wagner mutiny
News on Just Russia's withdrawal of electoral activity in the regions began to emerge shortly after Prigozhin's uprising in June 2023. Expert opinions differ: some believe it signals the falling from favor for the systemic opposition, while others argue that the party uses the uprising as a rhetorical cover-up for the internal splits.
Approval ratings do not predict change or Why we should stop gazing at political polls from Russia
Prigozhin's failed mutiny on June 24th sparked various speculations concerning his support among the Russian population.
In times of political turbulence, approval ratings become subject to interpretations fueled by the hope of regime collapse. An expert explains why putting so much trust in politicians’ approval ratings originating from today’s Russia might be delusional.
The thing
As it turned out at legal proceedings held on the 9th of March, proving the illegality and inadequacy of the online voting system used in Moscow's elections in 2022 wasn't rocket science or high mathematics. On the contrary, it was as easy as asking for a certificate!
Moscow's i-voting system is not lawfully certified and contradicts legal requirements, court investigations revealed.
First elections after mobilisation
Last year the Kremlin cheated people who came to pollings station. The regime said nothing about the upcoming draft. But merely within 10 days after the polling stations were closed, the recruiting centres were unexpectedly open.
It is not possible to repeat that trick again.
Four wise monkeys
After 24 February, the public sphere became a gaping void of silence. Only the voices of the "ardent supporters" could be heard in this void. They brought about the illusion that there was no one else but them.
It is vital to understand that the prevalent silence is highly misleading to be interpreted as support.
Il Duce served a la Russe
The Russian people have not named Vladimir Putin Il Duce (‘The Leader’). He has been identified as such, just as earlier in history in Italy, by the elite. And as in Italy, the elimination of fascism can only be finalised by integrating the ex-fascist country into the Western world.
Serfs of the State
Today we will discuss budgetary workers and their role in Putin's regime. Who are the "budgetniki"? Are they the backbone of Putin's regime? In what countries and under what conditions are elections susceptible to manipulation through budgetary workers?
The 2022 elections as the last refuge of the scoundrel
Without the successes in Ukraine or on the propagandistic internal front, these elections are the last opportunity for the Kremlin to assert the concept of business-as-usual, to ensure the grip on regional assemblies. It is vital in the anticipation of an economic slump, Moreover, the new municipal structure needs a strong hand. Finally, it is a testing ground for “distant voting”, impermeable for observers.
Read more … The 2022 elections as the last refuge of the scoundrel
The 2022 campaign will be quiet. Where and why?
It is strange that the authorities are scared of a pretty harmless list of regions. These fears are expressed in the reduction of elections on party lists and in pressure on opposition figures and inconvenient MPs. But the main risk for the authorities is latent protest and sabotage as a time-honoured Russian tradition. The safest thing in such circumstances is to orchestrate the quietest campaign possible.
Wartime elections
The upcoming E-day in Russia: deprived of the freedom of speech and party lists, elections are still the only way to grasp the citizens' attitude towards authorities.
Those who remained and remained unbroken
Despite the fact that municipal deputies in the Russian capital are deprived of power, over the last years they have come to personify the ‘people’s choice’. But, after 24 February, the municipal election campaign is under threat. Apart from barriers put up by the authorities, politically active citizens are now scared and demoralised – and many have even left Russia. Who is left in Moscow to resurrect the ‘bottom rung’ of democracy?
Elections in a close order formation
Essential changes to Russia’s electoral legislation were introduced after its aggression against Ukraine. Indeed, one might discern some military flavour in these adjustments: discipline, unification, centralisation, monopolisation of chain of command, and elimination of tools of civil control. Dr Arkady Lyubarev, candidate of legal sciences, co-author of federal and Moscow electoral legislation, and editor in chief of the draft Electoral Code, gives his assessment of the further deterioration of the electoral system in Russia.
‘Fortress’ Plan
Stanislav Andreychuk on how the Kremlin is changing laws that regulate Russia’s polity and elections to maintain the status quo.
2022 Russian elections and beyond
Russia is a highly diverse country from the point of view of its regions. Alexander Kynev looks at what is in store during the upcoming season of regional elections.
Created and (or) distributed: Discriminatory aspects of the application of legislation on ‘foreign agents’
OVD-Info reviews the newly expanded 'foreign agents' law to identify and analyze discriminatory aspects of the legislation and its application.
Statistical analysis of elections in Kuban
According to the analysis by Sergey Shpilkin, 889 thousand out of 1.7 million votes for United Russia in Kuban do not fall into the normal mathematical distribution. This can result from direct falsifications, pressurized voting of the employees of state-owned enterprises, public institutions, and local authorities, and the use of an administrative resource.
Levels of electoral fraud in the Russian regions
In order to help assess the outcomes of 2021 State Duma elections, the 'Movement in the Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos"' provides a reference analysis, dividing Russian regions into six groups based on the level of falsifications in the federal elections of 2016 and 2018 and in the all-Russian voting in 2020.
Read more … Levels of electoral fraud in the Russian regions
2021 State Duma elections: first statistical estimates
Sergey Shpilkin analyzes data from 96,840 polling stations that cover 107.9 million registered voters out of 109.2 million on the list. His analysis demonstrates that at the polling stations where the results appear genuine, the turnout is on average 38% and the United Russia's share of votes is between 31% and 33%.
Read more … 2021 State Duma elections: first statistical estimates
Residents of Russia-Occupied East Ukrainian Territories Encouraged to Vote in 2021 State Duma Elections
One aspect of the 2021 Russian parliamentary elections that differentiates them from previous federal elections is the potential participation in the voting process of dozens of thousands of people located on the Ukrainian territories outside of control of the Ukrainian authorities and not recognized as part of Russia by the Russian Federation itself.

Political competition's peculiarities: outcomes of candidate registration for September 19 regional and federal elections
The de facto impossibility to participate in elections for parties that must register candidates via signature collection turns their existence into a mere formality. This creates a vicious circle in which the system reproduces itself by welcoming only actors that are already 'in' and effectively barring new political players from elections.
Vladimir Putin plans to win Russia’s parliamentary election no matter how unpopular his party is
Despite its dismal approval rating, Russian President Vladimir Putin's ruling political party can – and likely will – win a constitutional majority in September's legislative elections.

Main Russian Political Parties: Mode of Operations and Regional Support Base
PART 4: JUST RUSSIA-PATRIOTS-FOR TRUTH
According to sociologists, the same four parties represented in the parliament now: United Russia, the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF), the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and Just Russia will probably be elected again in 2021. How are these four parties organized? What is their support base in regions?
Read more … Main Russian Political Parties: Mode of Operations and Regional Support Base
Main Russian Political Parties: Mode of Operations and Regional Support Base
PART 3: LDPR
According to sociologists, the same four parties represented in the parliament now: United Russia, the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF), the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and Just Russia will probably be elected again in 2021. How are these four parties organized? What is their support base in regions?
Read more … Main Russian Political Parties: Mode of Operations and Regional Support Base
Main Russian Political Parties: Mode of Operations and Regional Support Base
PART 2: CPRF
According to sociologists, the same four parties represented in the parliament now: United Russia, the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF), the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and Just Russia will probably be elected again in 2021. How are these four parties organized? What is their support base in regions?
Read more … Main Russian Political Parties: Mode of Operations and Regional Support Base
Main Russian Political Parties: Mode of Operations and Regional Support Base
PART 1: United Russia
According to sociologists, the same four parties represented in the parliament now: United Russia, the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF), the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and Just Russia will probably be elected again in 2021. How are these four parties organized? What is their support base in regions?
Read more … Main Russian Political Parties: Mode of Operations and Regional Support Base
No tolerance for dissent: the state of Russian media ahead of 2021 elections
After almost a decade of crackdowns on big players, the landscape of critical journalism in Russia is dominated by local or smaller niche projects. But if the 2020-2021 trend of relentless attacks on media, journalists, and bloggers continues, many of these small projects are not likely to survive into the autumn. The regime makes it pretty clear that it no longer intends to tolerate any dissent.
Read more … No tolerance for dissent: the state of Russian media ahead of 2021 elections
Lessons From Online Voting During the United Russia Primaries
During the United Russia primaries, experts detected possible falsification of the results and instances of interference in the electronic voting process. According to some analyses, 99% of votes for the first 22 candidates on the United Russia party list were falsified while the amount of falsified votes for candidates in single-mandate constituencies reached 80-95% of the votes cast.
Read more … Lessons From Online Voting During the United Russia Primaries
Conditions for Citizen Election Observation in the Russian Federation Ahead of the 2021 Duma Elections
Opportunities for independent citizen election observation and civil society space in general have been shrinking steadily in Russia over the past decade. Recently, further restrictions have been adopted that limit the ability of citizens to independently monitor electoral processes.
How Authorities Stripped Russians Of Choice
Over the past 14 years, the authorities have blocked 120,000 candidates from participating in elections of various levels, depriving millions of Russian citizens of the right to choose their representatives.
Now Extremists. How Alexei Navalny's Supporters May Be Persecuted
On June 9, the Moscow City Court, based on the charges by the Moscow Prosecutor's Office, recognized the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the Foundation for the Protection of Citizens' Rights, and the headquarters of Alexei Navalny as extremist organizations. Now, many citizens are under a threat of pressure and persecution.
Read more … Now Extremists. How Alexei Navalny's Supporters May Be Persecuted
United Russia Primaries 2021: How Electoral Technology Became Administrative
Between May 24 and 30, United Russia held its preliminary selection of candidates for 2021 State Duma elections. Nearly 12 million citizens participated in the party's primaries. Yet, a more careful examination shows an increasingly controlled and non-transparent process, aimed at having the public formally 'endorse' a carefully vetted list of pre-selected candidates.
Read more … United Russia Primaries 2021: How Electoral Technology Became Administrative
Online Elections in Russia: Manipulating Votes in a New Digital Realm
Ahead of the State Duma election on September 19, 2021, Russia just tested its remote electronic voting system. While the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation (CEC) is preparing the report about the results of the test, election monitors say Russia's electronic voting system is a black box.
Read more … Online Elections in Russia: Manipulating Votes in a New Digital Realm
New Legislation Aims To Block Opposition Candidates
The Russian authorities are expected to orchestrate a result in the upcoming State Duma elections that will give United Russia a clear majority of seats. This does not mean, however, that the manipulation of the electoral process by the authorities is complete. In a limited number of competitive districts, true opposition candidates including candidates who are associated with Aleksei Navalny have a real chance of winning if they are allowed to run. In recent weeks, steps have been taken to block these 'undesirable' candidates from participating.
Read more … New Legislation Aims To Block Opposition Candidates
The Emperor's secondhand clothes
By going to war in Ukraine, the Putin regime tried to be what it pretended to be, but its facade crashed into reality. Any myth is effective as long as its creator does not allow it to clash with reality. Skilled myth-makers know this well and guard their creations, and they do not, of course, believe in their own myths. Putin observed these rules for a long time, but he gradually began to believe in the myths that he and his entourage created and then acted in accordance with them.
Read more … The Emperor's secondhand clothes