Story perspectives

Russian election disqualifications spark turnout fears in Duma vote

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 3:17 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Russia launches election

Russia begins a three-day State Duma election, voting September 18-20, including occupied Ukrainian territories.
Voters will elect 450 deputies from single-member districts and party lists in equal halves.
Yabloko was excluded from the federal list, though its candidates still run in single-member constituencies.
Around 400 Communist Party observers were barred in Voronezh Oblast over document issues.
Public-sector workers in five regions reportedly forced to claim they voted for United Russia.

Summary

Disqualifications suppress turnout

Legal expert Andras Toth-Czifra says mass disqualifications aim to curb protest voting and lower turnout.
Eight Communist Party candidates, including Nikolai Bondarenko, were barred, generating over 3 million social-media views.
Twenty-nine Yabloko members and four regional branch heads, such as Boronina, were removed from the ballot.
Yabloko’s candidate pool fell to 106 in 45 regions, down from 135 at campaign start.

History

Historical Context

The September 1993 clash between President Boris Yeltsin and the Supreme Soviet ended with Yeltsin’s forces storming the White House and a December 12 referendum that adopted a constitution concentrating power in the presidency. He then signed the 1995 electoral law raising the party threshold to 5 %, limiting minor parties’ representation. Today United Russia’s dominance echoes that early centralisation.

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Russia launches election

Russia begins a three-day State Duma election, voting September 18-20, including occupied Ukrainian territories.
Voters will elect 450 deputies from single-member districts and party lists in equal halves.
Yabloko was excluded from the federal list, though its candidates still run in single-member constituencies.
Around 400 Communist Party observers were barred in Voronezh Oblast over document issues.
Public-sector workers in five regions reportedly forced to claim they voted for United Russia.

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