Russian parliamentary elections held in Belgrade

Russian parliamentary elections for the 450 seats in the State Duma are being held from September 18 to 20. The elections, the first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, are expected to see the ruling United Russia party, supported by President Vladimir Putin, maintain its dominance.

In Belgrade, Serbia, voting is taking place at a school near the Russian Embassy. Local Russian residents participated in the process, with some describing their participation as a “protest vote” due to the limited availability of opposition candidates. The informal organization “Serbia Against War” held a demonstration to highlight the absence of the Jabloko party from the ballot, using an apple picnic as a symbol for the excluded party.

Activists at the Belgrade polling station also organized a solidarity action to send letters to political prisoners in Russia, noting that many anti-war opponents are currently incarcerated. While the ruling party is expected to retain control, critics warn of a shrinking space for political opposition within the Duma.