Russia’s new parliament will be overwhelmingly loyal to the Kremlin, after elections marked by a record low turnout threw up few surprises. United Russia will take more than three-quarters of the 450 seats in the Duma. The projected 343 seats for United Russia is an increase of more than 100 from the previous parliament. One, Ilya Ponomarev, is living in exile while the other, Dmitry Gudkov, was beaten by a United Russia candidate in a Moscow district. “The situation is tough and difficult but the people still voted for United Russia,” Putin said on Sunday evening.

Source: The Guardian September 19, 2016 09:43 UTC