The headlines say it all: “Russia Vote to Cement Putin Dominance“, “Russian Election Insider Outlines Fraud“, “Putin’s Phony Election“. Russia votes today in a sham of a parliamentary election – orchestrated by Putin himself – rife with enough anti-democratic trappings to make Stalin proud.

In many ways, Russia’s political landscape is a fascinating place. Most voters have no faith in Russian elections and 35% prefer the former Soviet system. Perhaps surprisingly, most Russians even favor the concentration of Putin’s power (though the efficacy of Putin’s electioneering may have something to do with it).

Mr Putin recently gave a rousing speech at a stadium in Moscow, broadcast on every television channel. He said Russia was in danger from ill-wishing foreigners and thieving liberals. The message is clear. Russia’s enemies are the liberals who in the 1990s squandered its wealth, cut defence spending and led people into poverty. “<<< more

The fifth of Russia’s parliamentary elections since the end of the Soviet era, most analysts predict this occasion will signal an acceleration of Putin’s anti-democratic proclivities. Only candidates approved by the Kremlin have been allowed to participate. Serious opposition leaders have been arrested, detained, had their finances blocked and finally prevented from participating altogether. In fact, Putin is now competing against the (essentially defunct) Communist Party and a minor ultra-nationalist party (which was set up by the KGB in the 1980s and will likely be an ally in parliament), each slated to receive less than 20% of the vote combined.

To prevent the opposition from gaining anything at all, the media has provided exclusive coverage to Putin and the United Russia Party, schoolteachers have been instructed to bring their classes to pro-Putin rallies, the minimum election turn-out rule was abolished and various rules regarding coalitions forming have been scrapped to prevent minor parties from consolidating power.

“The Putin regime is entering a new phase of confronting its own people,” said Garry Kasparov, one of Putin’s most celebrated foes. “It is being transformed into a dictatorship,” said the former chess champion, who was convicted Saturday of leading an illegal march, chanting anti-Putin slogans and resisting arrest.

And of course, Europe’s principal elections watchdog (the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) canceled their participation in monitoring the process after citing “delays and restrictions” imposed by the Russian government.

Considering all this, it might be surprising to hear that (by all predictions) the Kremlin would have topped the opposition anyway – even if the proceedings had been free and fair. Putin’s authoritarian paranoia is reminiscent of some many before him… but perhaps that’s why the Russians seem to be unfazed.