Russians abroad stage peace rallies as voters write “No war” on Duma ballots
On the final voting day for Russia’s State Duma, opposition supporters abroad gathered at noon to protest the war in Ukraine, while domestic turnout at that hour was low.
The Russian opposition called for a synchronized noon protest on the final day of the State Duma election, asking voters to mark “No war” on their ballots. Demonstrators gathered abroad in several capitals, including Vilnius, The Hague, Yerevan, London and Berlin, but turnout was lower than the 2024 “Noon Against Putin” rally. Inside Russia, eyewitnesses reported only a handful of people voting at the designated hour, and queues that formed in Moscow were likely caused by a system failure that left many unable to receive paper ballots.
The coordinated effort highlights continued domestic dissent over the five-year war in Ukraine. While the protest did not match earlier numbers, it underscores ongoing opposition to the conflict among the Russian diaspora and some voters at home.
Why it matters
It shows persistent anti-war sentiment among Russians despite state pressure during a key parliamentary election.
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