world
September 19, 2021 – 16:06

Russians are voting Sunday on the final day of three days of parliamentary elections, accompanied by accusations of widespread irregularities and the crackdown on imprisoned opposition politician Alexey Navalny. The ruling party, United Russia, is expected to win parliamentary elections, as authorities eliminated vocal critics and suppressed independent media.

Russians continued voting Sunday in various ways on the final day of the country’s three-day parliamentary election.

Employees of a hospital in the city of Nizhny Novgorod were able to vote in the workplace. Grigory Vlasov is the head of the radiation therapy department.

“Doctors and nurses often work day and night or until late in the evening. They do not always have the opportunity to go to a polling station. “We have created this opportunity to vote quickly and in comfortable conditions without interrupting the work process.”

At a polling station in Yekaterinburg voters were also able to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The election is widely seen as an important part of President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to strengthen control ahead of the 2024 presidential election, in which control of the Duma, or parliament, will be key.

Although polls show support for Mr Putin’s United Russia party, the ruling party is expected to secure a landslide victory.