Russian elections

Sep 20, 2026 · 8m

Summary

Pat Kenny discusses Russia’s first parliamentary election since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine with BBC journalist Yaroslav Kureina. The conversation covers the predictable dominance of United Russia, the absence of genuine opposition, and the impact of recent drone attacks on Moscow. Kureina explains how state pressure and electronic voting influence turnout, while highlighting limited civic resistance through initiatives like "Smart Voting." The segment analyzes what these elections reveal about Russian public sentiment and the Kremlin’s managed democracy.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: CFP Financial Planning Show Intro: The Pat Kenny Show Context: Russian Parliamentary Elections Drone Attack on Moscow and Oil Refineries Impact on Daily Life and Electronic Voting Political Parties and Opposition Status Smart Voting and Protest Initiatives Strategic Importance for Putin Turnout Expectations and Coercion Public Perception of Election Fairness Closing Remarks and Show Outro Sponsor: CFP Financial Planning

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