Elections Begin in Russia Today

However, the ruling party, “united Russia”, which is de facto controlled by President Vladimir Putin, is likely to find the way to continue maintaining control of State Duma, writes The Guardian, broadcast the Express newspaper.

As it has shown itself tough on independent media and opposition, the Kremlin is trying to solve a simple mathematical problem: how to raise the figures of the ruling party, which in the polls has turned out to be the worst in its history.

Before the elections, which will be held for three days in a row, increased support for the Communist Party has been noted. The allies of the main opposition figure, Alexei Navajo, have called for the Communist Party's candidates, which are expected to come in second in order to be injured in the ruling party's vote.

In recent weeks, polls say, the Communist Party will get about 19 per cent of the vote, mainly because of the government's lack of wages and price hikes on the other side. Despite bringing some new figures, the Communist Party in the past has been close to the ruling party and still has the old chairman Gennady Zyuganov, who in 1996 had competed against Boris Yeltsin.

According to polls, the United Russia “” will get less than 30 per cent of the vote. The main opposition figures have been imprisoned, disqualified by the race, or have left the country, thus creating a easier environment for the ruling party's victory.