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Putin’s Party Braces for Verdict of Angry Voters in Russia Polls

  • Kremlin-backed candidates try to shrug off United Russia label
  • Stagnant incomes, pension reforms fuel Russians’ discontent
Members of the Russian national guard stand at a metro entrance a demonstrator during a rally against the exclusion of opposition candidates, Aug. 3.

Members of the Russian national guard stand at a metro entrance a demonstrator during a rally against the exclusion of opposition candidates, Aug. 3.

Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
Updated on

What was supposed to be a sleepy round of off-cycle regional elections on Sunday has turned into a referendum on President Vladimir Putin and his ruling United Russia party.

Initial results in a few races for governor appeared to show good news for the Kremlin even as its candidates faced unusual opposition in several regions across the country amid stagnant incomes and unpopular reforms. Elections for Moscow’s largely toothless city council this summer sparked Russia’s biggest protests since Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 after four years as prime minister.