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Russia Votes

Russia elected a new parliament on Sunday, Dec. 2. DW-WORLD.DE looks at the issues and controversies that dominated the campaign, well after the vote. Click for more articles and videos.

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An unidentified Russian woman casts her ballot with the Russian flag at right — Image: AP

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It came as no big surprise that President Vladimir Putin's party, United Russia, won the parliamentary elections with over 60 percent of the vote.

Harassment and intimidation of opposition party members was widespread in the run-up to the election and formal hurdles were put in place to prevent independent candidates from taking office.

DW-WORLD.DE looks at the election campaign and the effect it has on Putin's power.

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Reports & Analysis

Putin addresses the Russia people in a TV interview

Putin addresses the Russia people in a TV interview

Putin Keeps Control

Putin's party has won an overwhelming majority in what the opposition is calling a fraudulent vote.

Opinion

Opinion

Defeat for Democracy

Democracy was the undisputed loser in Russia's parliamentary elections, DW's Cornelia Rabitz said.

Russian voters give Vladimir Putin a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections - je 03.12.2007

We start in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party has won a landslide majority in parliamentary elections. With almost all of the ballots counted, United Russia is holding more than 60 percent of the vote. But, opposition parties are calling the poll a "farce" and say they will challenge the result in court. +++SYN-MAZ+++

Two elderly Russian citizens cast their vote

Two elderly Russian citizens cast their vote

Heat From the West

Kremlin takes heat from Western leaders following dubious parliamentary elections on Dec. 2.

Initial turnout is reportedly high in Russia's parliamentary election - Journal (english) 02.12.2007 10 UTC

Initial turnout is reportedly high in Russia's parliamentary election. Eleven parties are taking part - but opinion polls say President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party is set to take at least two thirds of the votes for the 450 seat Duma. Observers outside Russia, and members of opposition parties, have questioned whether today's poll will be free and fair. There will be some 400 international observers on hand - but none from Europe's main monitoring body, the OSCE.

Two soldiers carry a Russian ballot box

Two soldiers carry a Russian ballot box

Lacking Observers

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday criticized the organization of Russian elections.

In Russia, police arrest scores of opposition activists during weekend protests- je 26.11.2007

Riot police in Russia have beaten opposition activists and detained almost 200 people during a second day of protest rallies against President Vladimir Putin. The crackdown followed Saturday's arrest of opposition leader Garry Kasparov at a Moscow rally. Parliamentary elections are due to be held this weekend - the opposition believes the Kremlin will rig the vote in its favor. +++SYN-MAZ+++

A woman walking in Moscow's snow-covered red square

A woman walking in Moscow's snow-covered red square

Politically Unconscious?

According to Russian sociologist Lev Gudkov, most Russians don't know what democracy is.

European observers pull out of Russia's upcoming election - citing official obstruction - je 16.11.2007 16

Europe's main election watchdog says it WON'T be sending its representatives to Moscow to monitor Russia's parliamentary elections on December 2nd as planned. A spokeswoman for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe or OSCE says that Russian restrictions would make the group's mission untenable. Russia invited just 70 OSCE observers to monitor the December poll, compared to 400 in 2003. For its part, Russia accused the OSCE of inventing reasons for the pull-out. +++SYN-MAZ+++

Russian President Vladimir Putin in front of a map of Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin in front of a map of Russia

No Need to Worry?

German experts on Russia say there's really little need to fear the Kremlin's long-term plans.

Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush, with fluffy clouds in the background

Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush, with fluffy clouds in the background

Russian Elections

President Putin accused the US on Monday of urging observers not to monitor Sunday's elections.

A lineup of heavily-equipped Russian security forces

A lineup of heavily-equipped Russian security forces

Multiple Arrests

Police broke up opposition marches in Moscow and St. Petersburg, arresting dozens of people.

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