Putin Orders FSB to Safeguard Russia’s 2026 Elections, Expanding Political Control

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has officially directed the Federal Security Service (FSB) to safeguard the “sovereignty” of the upcoming State Duma  elections, set for September 2026.

According to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) on February 25, this move grants security agencies the power to clear the political landscape and suppress any opposition.

In a meeting with the FSB, Putin urged the agency to increase its oversight of the electoral process, stressing the need for close coordination between the service, the Ministry of Defense, and the Russian National Guard to address internal threats.

“The security apparatus has been given a carte blanche to suppress any dissent ahead of the Duma elections,” analysts from SZRU emphasized.

They believe that under the term “sovereignty protection,” the goal is to establish conditions where the outcome of the elections is decided long before the voting takes place.

Read more

Category

Anti-Fake

When Was the Last Time Russia Even Had a Fair Election?

Feb 20, 2025 14:08

“Putin traditionally attributed the rise in ‘terrorism-related crimes’ to Kyiv and its ‘foreign curators’—a formulation so broad that it can be applied to any inconvenient incident on Russian territory,” the Foreign Intelligence Service added.

In addition to political pressure, Putin also focused on cyber threats and challenges in the defense procurement sector, which analysts suggest is a reflection of the strain on Russia’s economy due to the prolonged war.

At the same time, Russian authorities are considering the possibility of preventing the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) from monitoring elections in the country. This proposal was put forward by Ella Pamfilova, head of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Pamfilova took the opportunity to criticize the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which is responsible for overseeing elections.

Read more

Category

Anti-Fake

Ultranationalist Ideologues Now Teach History in Russia’s Universities

Feb 24, 2026 15:51

“Why do we need them? Why are we even contributing? They don’t protect our rights at all. They don’t defend the rights of journalists, and they don’t protect rights in any area, including electoral rights,” she stated.

Describing the ODIHR as a “completely closed” and “undemocratic” organization, Pamfilova argued that Russia legitimizes its reports simply by participating in the process.

“Their conclusions, dictated by their, excuse me, masters—depending on whether a country is obedient or not—completely contradict the assessments of observers, including ours. […] I believe this organization has fully discredited itself,” she noted.

Earlier, Russia was ramping up its disinformation campaign aimed at Moldovan communities throughout Europe in the lead-up to the country's elections in September 2025.

Donate Towards Eye-Treatment Equipment For Ukrainians

Completed