United Russia, led by former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (see note 1), retained an absolute majority in the 450-member State Duma, and now holds 326 seats (down from 343). The Communist Party (KPRF), led by Mr. Gennady Zyuganov, remained the second largest party, winning 57 seats (up from 42 in 2016). A Just Russia, led by the former Chairman of the Council of the Republic, Mr. Sergey Mironov, became the third largest force. The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR, led by Mr. Vladimir Zhirinovsky) saw its number of seats reduced from 39 to 23. The New People, founded by Mr. Alexey Nechayev in 2020, entered the State Duma for the first time. 

On 25 September, around 1,000 people gathered in Moscow to protest the election results. Many of them demanded a recount, others expressed support for the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny (see note 2). President Vladimir Putin (note 3) praised the elections as free and fair, adding that the State Duma would have five parliamentary groups, instead of four, for the first time since 1999 which, he said, was a sign of “the democratic development in our country”.

The 2021 elections were held amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the presidential decree issued on 17 June 2021 set 19 September as the poling day, the 2021 elections were in fact held over three days from 17 to 19 September. The election commission said the alternative arrangements would protect the health and safety of citizens.

Note 1:
In January 2020, Mr. Dmitry Medvedev resigned as Prime Minister and was succeeded by Mr. Mikhail Mishustin. President Putin subsequently appointed Mr. Medvedev as the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Note 2:
Mr. Alexei Navalny was detained in January 2021 when he returned from Germany following treatment related to a nerve agent attack in Siberia in August 2020. He was jailed in February 2021 for violating the conditions of a suspended sentence in an embezzlement case. On 18 May 2021, the State Duma approved a bill that would bar members of "extremist" organizations from running for seats in the State Duma. On 9 June, the Moscow City Court ruled to designate Mr. Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and the affiliated Citizens’ Rights Protection Organization as “extremist” organizations.

Note 3:
On 24 March 2021, the State Duma passed a bill that gives the incumbent president the right to run for the post again after his current term expires in 2024. On 5 April, President Putin signed the bill into law. The 2021 bill was passed in accordance with the constitutional amendments approved in a referendum in 2020. One of these resets previous and current presidential terms served before the amendments entered into force. This allows the incumbent to potentially serve two more terms, until 2036.