By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Sept. 8, GNA – Russia is stepping up security measures ahead of its nationwide parliamentary elections scheduled for September 18 to 20, amid what officials describe as “unprecedented external pressure and hybrid threats”.
The elections, the most extensive parliamentary polls in Russia since the launch of its special military operation, will determine the composition of the country’s 450-member State Duma for the next five years.
Russian officials have stressed the need for the elections to be conducted in accordance with the law while ensuring the safety of voters and election officials.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the country’s diplomatic missions had been placed on high alert to protect citizens voting at polling stations abroad.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, she said operational guidelines had been sent to diplomatic missions to respond to possible provocations or aggressive actions.
Ms Zakharova said Russia’s adversaries were preparing coordinated hybrid operations, in addition to information campaigns, aimed at disrupting the electoral process and the expression of citizens’ will.
Despite the security concerns, about 350 polling stations are expected to operate outside Russia to enable its citizens abroad to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
Meanwhile, Ella Pamfilova, the Head of Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC), has reaffirmed that traditional paper ballots would remain available alongside remote electronic voting.
She said voters in the country would have the option of casting their ballots electronically through the Gosuslugi portal or voting physically at polling stations.
Ms Pamfilova described paper voting as an important guarantee of transparency in the electoral process.
The CEC said 3,103 candidates were contesting the 450 parliamentary seats, with candidates drawn from both parliamentary and non-parliamentary political parties.
President Vladimir Putin has described the elections as the country’s most important domestic political event, saying their outcome would influence Russia’s development trajectory over the next five years.
Voting within Russia will be conducted over three days, from September 18 to 20, a measure intended to ease voter flows and reduce pressure on election officials amid prevailing operational risks.
The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of Parliament, plays a central role in the country’s legislative and political affairs.
It adopts federal laws, approves the national budget and exercises parliamentary oversight over the executive branch. Its work also covers economic policy, social welfare, security and defence.
The composition of the Duma is, therefore, expected to influence the policy priorities that will guide Russia’s national development over the next five years.
Beyond domestic affairs, the Duma also plays a role in Russia’s international relations through parliamentary diplomacy.
Russian lawmakers engage foreign counterparts, including parliamentarians from African countries, while also ratifying international treaties and adopting positions on major global issues.
The parliament has consistently advocated a multipolar world order and criticised what it describes as attempts by Western countries to impose their own rules internationally.
For Russian nationals resident in Ghana, a polling station will be established at the Russian Embassy in Accra, Cantonments, Jawaharlal Nehru Road/Switchback Line.
Voting at the embassy will take place on September 20 from 0800 hours to 2000 hours, according to information provided by the Russian authorities.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]