Russians vote for parliament seats amid tensions over Crimea

(Vatican Radio) Early voting has begun in Russia's parliamentary election, amid rising tensions with the West. The United States already said it would not recognize the outcome of voting in Russian-occupied Crimea. 

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

Most Russians were to vote later on Sunday, but in a country spanning 11 time zones at least some already cast ballots in an election dominated by President Vladimir Putin's supporters.   

The West is closely monitoring voting for 450 parliamentarians expected to occupy seats in the State Duma, or lower house, for the next five years. The outgoing Duma had just a handful of legislators opposing President Putin.

Opposition figures and Western officials are worried about possible wrongdoing. Evidence of vote-rigging already sparked mass protests after the 2011 elections, and concerns remain over the plight of opposition leaders. 

Yet ahead of Sunday's election, President Putin urged all Russians to trust the vote would be free and fair. "The elections of deputies for legislative assemblies and heads of executive departments will be held in many regions across the country...All its participants have gained equal terms aimed at an open, fair contest so they could outline their position on various problems and offer solutions," he said.

Comparing programs

"The electorate could objectively asses and compare the programs, goals, actions and achievements of the parties and candidates," Putin claimed. 

Critics disagree. And the U.S. expressed concern that for the first time Russia is also holding elections to its parliament in Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Washington warned that it would not recognize the vote there. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the peninsula remains "an integral part of Ukraine" and stressed that "Crimea-related sanctions against Russia would remain until Russia returns control of Crimea to Ukraine."

Kiev called the elections "completely illegitimate" and complained about the many Russian troops it said are in Crimea.

Despite Russia's tensions with the West over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as massive economic difficulties, some commentators called the election campaign the most boring in recent memory.

Widespread reported voter apathy suggested that turnout could be low. First exit polls were expected late Sunday.