# Russian elections a ‘veneer of democracy’ with opposition barred from running

https://mins.news/en/item/64046

- France 24, 2026-09-18 10:16 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.france24.com/en/russian-elections-a-veneer-of-democracy-with-opposition-barred-from-running

> Russia is holding its first parliamentary elections since the Ukraine war. With only parties loyal to Vladimir Putin allowed to run, the vote is being portrayed as nothing more than a veneer of democracy.

## Stories

- [Russian Parliamentary Elections and Political System](https://mins.news/en/topic/russia-election-and-political-system) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/russia-election-and-political-system.md

## Related coverage

- [Putin: Ukraine seeks to interfere with Russian polls while holding no elections of its own](https://mins.news/en/item/64812) — TASS, 2026-09-18
- [Russia holds first parliamentary election since war in Ukraine began](https://mins.news/en/item/64736) — NBC News, 2026-09-18
- [The view from Russia: ‘No party can be antiwar’ in parliamentary election](https://mins.news/en/item/64219) — Al Jazeera, 2026-09-18
- [Russian elections a “veneer of democracy” as opposition barred from running](https://mins.news/en/video/63789) — France 24 English, 2026-09-18
