Russian-occupied Donbas will vote in State Duma elections for the first time. How is the Kremlin preparing for this?

Russian-occupied Donbas will vote in State Duma elections for the first time. How is the Kremlin preparing for this?

In September 2026, Russia will hold State Duma elections, and for the first time the annexed territories will take part in them, even though life there can hardly now be called calm and stable. How will people vote under such conditions? And why does the Kremlin need the participation of the "new regions" in the elections at all? Konstantin Skorkin discusses this in an article for the Carnegie Politika project. Meduza is publishing the full text.

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Russian-occupied Donbas will vote in State Duma elections for the first time. How is the Kremlin preparing for this?

In September 2026, Russia will hold State Duma elections, and for the first time the annexed territories will take part in them, even though life there can hardly be called calm and stable now. Konstantin Skorkin explains how the Kremlin is preparing for these elections and what this may lead to…