Russians abroad stage peace rallies on final day of Duma election voting
On the last day of voting in Russia's State Duma elections, opposition supporters both inside Russia and abroad gathered to protest the war in Ukraine, though turnout was lower than at a similar rally in 2024.
September 20 marked the final day of voting in Russia's State Duma elections. Ahead of the vote, Russia's opposition had called on citizens to cast their ballots precisely at noon local time as a form of protest against Russia's war on Ukraine, now in its fifth year.
In several countries, voters did turn out at that hour, but overall participation was lower than during the 2024 "Noon Against Putin" campaign. Witnesses in various Russian cities reported that only small numbers of people showed up to vote at noon.
In Moscow, lines did form outside some polling stations, but these were reportedly caused mainly by a technical malfunction that temporarily prevented voters from receiving paper ballots, rather than by the coordinated protest.
Rallies in Russia and abroad
Solidarity gatherings tied to the protest took place in a number of cities worldwide, including Vilnius, The Hague, Yerevan, London and Berlin, as well as in locations within Russia itself. It was also reported that some voters inside Russia wrote the words "No war" on their ballots.
The parliamentary election is taking place against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, with opposition figures — including Russians living abroad — continuing to use election days as an opportunity to publicly voice opposition to Kremlin policy.
