Putin says lines at polling stations ‘show that Russia cannot be intimidated.’ In Moscow, people waited hours for paper ballots due to a system glitch.

Vladimir Putin commented on elections to the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, held in Russia September 18–20, thanking Russians for their “active participation” in the campaign.

“It is well known that they tried to prevent and disrupt these elections, as evidenced by the enemy’s constant attempts to breach the air defenses of Moscow and other regions. But the lines at polling stations show that Russia cannot be intimidated,” Putin said at a meeting with government members.

He added that “such a record number of people who came out and voted” shows that “the people of Russia support our efforts to strengthen the country.”

“I want you to know, comrades: this vote is for you. People believe in you, they believe in our victory,” Putin said, addressing ”SVO participants.”

Long lines formed at polling stations in Moscow on Sunday, September 20, largely because voters were unable to get paper ballots for several hours due to a malfunction in the electronic voter list system.

Opposition leaders in Russia had called on people to come to polling stations at noon on Sunday during this election as a way of expressing their protest. However, fewer of these lines formed than during the “Noon Against Putin” campaign in the 2024 presidential election.