Russia’s elections for the State Duma, the country’s parliament, end today. Yet the winner was clear even before the voting began, because the chamber consists almost entirely of Putin and war supporters, after nationwide participation by the country’s only openly anti-war party was blocked.
That is why the most interesting thing about the election is not its outcome but what happens at noon today. Russia’s opposition has urged people to vote at precisely that time, in the hope of creating crowds at polling stations.
The possible crowds are, of course, of no significance in themselves. But their size could provide an indication of the level of support for the opposition — or at least of how many of its supporters have the courage to publicly express a political opinion against the regime. Even that, however, has little significance beyond perhaps causing some irritation to Putin — assuming anyone dares to tell him about it.
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The State Duma itself has an interesting history. Its first incarnation was created after Russia suffered defeat by Japan in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05. The defeat was a tremendous humiliation for the Russians, as it was the first time a European great power had lost a war to an Asian state.
The defeat contributed to the revolution that broke out in Russia. As a result, the tsar’s absolute power was curtailed and a representative assembly, the Duma, was established. At the time, however, only a small proportion of Russians were allowed to take part in its elections. The impact of the lost war also extended to Finland, where the first Red Guards were established, the first Russification period came to an end, and Finland — then a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire — gained a unicameral parliament.
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There was no need for a Duma during the Soviet Union, but it was re-established in 1993, during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin. It serves as the legislative body of the Russian Federation, responsible for passing federal laws as well as exercising parliamentary oversight over the government and other state institutions.
In practice, the Duma’s significance has dwindled to almost nothing under Vladimir Putin, and it has become more of a false façade for his dictatorship: it looks like democracy, but in reality it is merely a dictator’s rubber stamp. If even that.
Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Putin's Growing Crisis in Ukraine and an Uncertain Endgame for Russia
Independence and the Sword of Damocles
Is President Putin on his way to repeat the destiny of Czar Nicholas II?
