Putin Braces for First Russian Election Since Kremlin Return
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Russia’s regional elections, including the first gubernatorial polls in eight years, are testing President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to reassert control after the largest protests in more than a decade.
Contenders backed by the ruling United Russia party may suffer setbacks in at least 10 mayoral and local legislative elections before the Oct. 14 vote, the Carnegie Moscow Center projects. Governing-party candidates are leading by double-digit margins in all five gubernatorial races, according to a report released this month by the Civil Society Development Fund.