Russia’s election without a choice
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The Kremlin is ensuring that the ruling, but unpopular, United Russia party wins a majority in the State Duma. Political opponents have been jailed, driven into exile or barred from standing
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Prison
Exiled
Prison
Barred
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Alexey Navalny
Leader of Russia of the Future is imprisoned – all his team are banned from standing in elections

Dmitry Gudkov
Leader of Party of Changes flees to Bulgaria after receiving warnings of threats against his family

Andrei Pivovarov
Head of Open Russia arrested in May. Party is designated as “undesirable organisation” and banned

Yulia Galyamina
Yabloko party member given two-year suspended sentence for anti-Kremlin protests

44% 31% 37% 28% 28% 29% 28% 31% 27%
 
United Russia
(approval ratings)
  
Lowest rating in 13 years

Nov 2015
Aug 2016
Dec 2017
Aug 2018
Jul 2019
Dec 2019
Feb 2020
Aug 2020
Feb  2121

President Vladimir Putin

20 30 40
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Sources: Associated Press, Bloomberg, Levada Center Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS