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Russia holds rigged election as observers call vote 'dirtiest' in modern history

Russia conducted parliamentary elections on September 18-20, 2026, which international observers described as the "dirtiest" vote in the country's modern history, lacking free and fair conditions. President Putin is using the contested results to claim a mandate for escalating military operations.

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Russia's rigged election gives Putin a mandate for all-out war

rss:kyivindependentinternational7d ago wire ×2 kagi ↗

Observers described the Sept. 18-20 parliamentary election as the "dirtiest" vote in Russia's modern history. In a country that has not held free and fair elections for nearly three decades, that might seem like a difficult result to achieve. All independent media were banned soon after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, ensuring a media landscape where no criticism of the authorities was

KYIV INDEPENDENT: Russia's rigged election gives Putin a mandate for all-out war https:// kyivindependent.com/russias-ri gged-election-gives-putin-a-mandate-for-all-out-war/ Observers described the Se

mastodon:mstdn-socialother7d ago kagi ↗

KYIV INDEPENDENT: Russia's rigged election gives Putin a mandate for all-out war https:// kyivindependent.com/russias-ri gged-election-gives-putin-a-mandate-for-all-out-war/ Observers described the Sept. 18-20 parliamentary election as the "dirtiest" vote in Russia s modern history. In a country that has not held free and fair elections for nearly three decades, that might seem like a difficult re