Al Jazara
روایت خاورمیانه 
The Kremlin is increasingly taking steps to eliminate potential risks of public discontent in the weeks leading up to the Duma elections. In this context, candidates from managed opposition parties, such as the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), have been arrested or disqualified from running. These actions are particularly evident regarding Yabloko, the only explicitly anti-war party, which has recently been disqualified from running.
Elimination of Candidates and Public Discontent
In the past, opposition leaders, including Alexei Navalny, who has been imprisoned for his criticisms of the Kremlin, encouraged voting for these parties as an anti-regime vote. However, this time the Kremlin has positioned itself in a way that leaves no chance for public discontent to arise. Public dissatisfaction is on the rise, and the likelihood of discontent during voting is so high that managed opposition cannot be allowed to operate freely.
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Yabloko's Registration and Its Impact
Yabloko, the only registered political party in Russia that adheres to democratic principles, was allowed to register for the Duma elections in July. This decision was likely made to demonstrate the Kremlin's confidence. However, after a sudden increase in public interest in this party due to its anti-war slogans, its registration was revoked by the Supreme Court in August. This unpredictable interest, particularly on social media and search engines, reflects the people's desire to express dissatisfaction with the current situation.
Repressive Policies and Their Effects
Regarding the CPRF, which is the second-largest party in the Duma, some of its candidates have been removed from the list for various reasons. Nikolai Bondarenko, a popular communist with over two million subscribers on YouTube, has been disqualified from participating in the elections for using "extremist symbols." However, none of these parties will pose a threat to the majority of the United Russia party if the repressions continue.
The Kremlin is trying to achieve its desired results by applying political pressure and eliminating independent observers. The current goal is to achieve 50 percent participation and 50 percent of the vote for the United Russia party. Meanwhile, concerns about public discontent have significantly increased, and the Kremlin is well aware that this discontent could jeopardize the outcome of the elections.
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