{
  "id": 6421057,
  "title": "This Isn’t An Election, It’s A Kremlin-Controlled Performance — Tsahkna On Upcoming Vote In Russia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/this-isnt-an-election-its-a-kremlin-controlled-performance-tsahkna-on",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T11:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "UATV English",
    "slug": "uatv-english",
    "url": "https://uatv.ua/en/this-isn-t-an-election-it-s-a-kremlin-controlled-performance-tsahkna-on-upcoming-vote-in-russia/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has warned that Russia's upcoming State Duma elections are a \"Kremlin-controlled performance\" rather than a genuine election. In a post on X, Tsahkna stated that the election, set to take place from September 18-20, is predetermined with the outcome decided before any votes are even counted. He emphasized that the Kremlin controls every aspect of the process, from who is allowed to run for office to how the vote is conducted.\n\nUkrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed Tsahkna's sentiment, describing the Russian vote as a \"farce\" that bears no resemblance to a democratic process. Over the past 26 years, the Putin regime has implemented a complete crackdown on freedom of speech and the opposition in Russia. Furthermore, independent OSCE observers have been barred from monitoring the elections, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.",
  "summary": "The so-called State Duma elections in Russia will be a Kremlin-controlled performance, with the outcome determined in advance. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote this on X , UATV English reports. According to him, the election that will take place in Russia won't be a vote, but a performance. \"An important reminder ahead of Russia's so-called State Duma elections. The Kremlin decides…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}