MOSCOW – The pro-Putin ruling United Russia party won a record number of seats in the national parliament, according to near-complete official election results on Monday, while the anti-war Yabloko party appeared to have won a tiny foothold in one regional parliament. Russian President Vladimir Putin had cast the three-day election to the State Duma — the first since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022 — as a test of support for the war. Elections for some regional parliaments and governors were held at the same time.
In a tightly controlled political system, which critics say does not tolerate genuine dissent, under which many of Yabloko’s candidates were barred, few surprises were expected.
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