Live: Russian election enters final day in shadow of war in Ukraine

A parliamentary election in Russia has entered its final day. President Vladimir Putin has framed the election as a test of public support for Russia's war in Ukraine. The ruling United Russia party is expected to maintain its dominance in the political system.

The election is the first since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, according to the New Straits Times. The Kremlin is likely to present the outcome as evidence of public backing for Putin's policies and the war. Most anti-war candidates were barred from the ballot, and those who did run from the liberal Yabloko party expressed fear for their freedom.

The New Straits Times also reported that courts handed long jail terms to two senior Yabloko party figures before the vote for comments about the conflict deemed illegal by authorities. Discrediting the army or spreading what authorities regard as fake news are punishable by lengthy prison sentences.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, New Straits Times — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.