Russian holds parliamentary elections

Russians on Sunday cast their votes in parliamentary elections set to see parties loyal to President Vladimir Putin stay firmly in charge despite the lengthiest economic crisis of his rule.

The nationwide election follows a tumultuous few years that have seen the country seize the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine, plunge into its worst standoff with the West since the Cold War and start a military operation in Syria.

But the Kremlin exerts near-total control and, after a campaign dubbed the most boring in recent memory, a trouble-free victory for ruling United Russia would help smooth the way for Putin to claim a fourth term as president in 2018. (AFP)

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