President Putin's United Russia party has secured a record 355 seats in the State Duma, winning 57.83% of the vote in an election Putin framed as a test of support for the war in Ukraine — with no opposition parties critical of the Kremlin allowed to run. Kremlin ally Ramzan Kadyrov was also re-elected to a fifth term as Chechnya's leader with nearly 100% of the vote. EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas dismissed the elections as a mere "veneer" of democracy, announcing sanctions on those who organized voting in occupied Ukraine, while experts note the results reflect Putin's late campaign push amid signs of declining party support. Separately, a UN expert warned Russia has escalated a state-directed campaign of surveillance and intimidation against critics living abroad.
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