Pro-Putin party gets record 355 parliamentary seats, anti-war party a tiny regional foothold

Key Points:

• The pro-Putin United Russia party won a record 355 seats, nearly 80% of the 450-seat Duma, increasing its share from 49.8% in 2021 to 57.83%, securing a constitutional majority to pass laws without other parties' support.
• Four other parties entered parliament: the Communists (13.81%), LDPR (8.98%), New People (7.96%), and Just Russia (just over 5%), all generally aligned with United Russia on key issues.
• Voter turnout was a record 59.3%, despite a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow on the final voting day, and the Central Electoral Commission chair declared the election "clean" despite opposition allegations of rigging.
• The anti-war Yabloko party failed to win any national seats but gained a small foothold in Novgorod’s regional parliament with just over 5% of the vote, marking a rare victory for dissent in Russia's tightly controlled political environment.
• Public reaction ranged from resignation to cautious hope for peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict, with some citizens expressing satisfaction with the status quo while others desired an end to the war and economic stability.