Russia's disputed legislative elections: observers blocked, irregularities reported

Russia's ruling party United Russia won a landslide victory in legislative elections held September 18-20, the first since the invasion of Ukraine, but independent media report widespread obstruction of observers and voting irregularities. In Moscow, a communist candidate said an observer was expelled by police for allegedly "walking too much" in the polling station. Similar incidents occurred nationwide, with observers from the anti-war Yabloko party turned away and communist monitors in Buryatia finding their car tires slashed. In Ufa, election commission members reportedly offered vodka and champagne to observers, potentially to justify their removal. Some irregularities were documented on video, though official results remain difficult to verify independently.