Moscow
Pro-Kremlin parties trounced all others this week in local elections in 14 of Russia’s regions. United Russia, the party that controls the federal legislature and bases its platform around loyalty to President Vladimir Putin, took first place in 13 of the races. A new party called A Just Russia captured first place in one region and second place in all the others. Formed just five months ago, A Just Russia calls itself an opposition party; it does criticize United Russia, but is also devoted to Putin. Leaders of the long-established, pro-Western opposition parties, such as the Union of Right Forces and Yabloko, charged that the new party was created to siphon off votes from the real opposition. Those parties were pushed off the ballot in some of the races and fared poorly where they did compete.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Mickey 17: 'charming space oddity' that's a 'sparky one-off'The Week Recommends 'Remarkable' Robert Pattinson stars in Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi comedy
-
EastEnders at 40: are soaps still relevant?Talking Point Albert Square's residents are celebrating, but falling viewer figures have fans worried the soap bubble has burst
-
What will the thaw in Russia-US relations cost Europe?Today's Big Question US determination to strike a deal with Russia over Ukraine means Europe faces 'betrayal by a long-term ally'
