Moscow to hold 2022 municipal elections

Moscow will hold its 2022 municipal elections today, Russia’s first elections since the invasion of Ukraine.

Voters will elect deputies to over 1500 seats in 146 different local councils. However, these local councils typically have little funding or power, with policy mainly being determined by the national parliament and city legislature. Deputies usually must align themselves with the city mayor to operate with relative autonomy, usually competing with their ability to cater to the wishes of their constituents.

Despite their growing presence in the past few years, independent candidates will likely have far lower prospects for election-day victories. Due to the war in Ukraine, many centers which supported independent campaigns have been forced to shut down and their leaders were driven into exile. Additionally, over 30 council members have been banned from running due to criticism of the Kremlin’s handling of the conflict, which Putin’s strict censorship laws have deemed “extremism”. Critics have repeatedly warned of vote-rigging and decried the arrest of opposition politicians. However, with over 100 independent candidates on the ballot in Moscow, the nation’s capital may pose–albeit still unlikely–the strongest challenge to the ruling United Russia party. Despite this, most winners will likely be candidates affiliated with the Kremlin.