Managing Election in Russia: Mechanisms and Problems

摘要

This report analyses the political system in Russia with the focus on the Duma election in 2007 and shows how the current system is managed by the power elite. It also reveals the complex nature of the system, which is managed by more than just a few individuals and which serves the interests of many different economic and political interests. It is often suggested that Putin's support is broad and stable and that he has created a stable political system, but also that elections in Russia are not free and fair. However through scrutinizing the facts available, this report shows that Putin's support is not as large as is generally perceived. In the Duma election of 2007, which was made into a vote of personal confidence in President Putin, the active support from the electorate was at most slightly less than half, and possibly as low as one-third, and was generally lowest in more economically developed parts of Russia.