No Real Elections in Russia, Says Portnikov; Kremlin Reserves Seats for War Veterans.

Vitaliy Portnikov Weighs In on Russia's Parliamentary Elections

According to Espreso.tv: According to journalist Vitaliy Portnikov, Russia's upcoming parliamentary 'elections' are a sham, with outcomes predetermined long before any votes are cast. He argues that the State Duma has become nothing more than a club for Putin’s appointees, highlighting the absence of genuine democratic processes in the country.

The Kremlin intends to reserve roughly one hundred parliamentary seats for veterans of the so-called Special Military Operation (SVO) in Ukraine. Portnikov suggests these veterans will serve as loyal rubber-stamp legislators, just like their predecessors. The ruling United Russia party has already allocated 40 spots for soldiers who fought in Ukraine, signaling the government's strategy to reward its supporters by granting them positions in the Duma.

Potential Candidates and Political Integration

Among the possible candidates, Portnikov also mentioned Serhiy Arbuzov, who may run for the Duma under the Fair Russia party. The journalist emphasized that this reflects a broader trend of transforming the Russian parliament into an unprofessional body. He stated:

“This is a complete transformation of the Duma into an unprofessional institution.” — Vitaliy Portnikov

Furthermore, Portnikov noted that Russian journalists have concluded that the main sponsor of the Fair Russia party will be the well-known businessman Viktor Medvedchuk. This development points to deepening ties between business and political power in Russia, further tightening the Kremlin’s grip on political processes.

Ultimately, Portnikov’s remarks underscore that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Russia are not an exercise in genuine democracy but rather a continuation of the existing political trajectory—one that involves supporting SVO veterans and strengthening the influence of business over politics.

These elections, scheduled to take place soon, are widely regarded as a mere formality. Analysts confirm that the results have been decided in advance, reducing the role of deputies to simply executing orders from the Kremlin. As authoritarian trends intensify across the country, the lack of real competition undermines the foundations of the democratic process and poses a threat to political stability in the region.