Independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta leaked an audio file Thursday which appears to reveal alleged efforts to rig votes in Russia's upcoming parliamentary elections. The recording was made by an unnamed participant in a training session of election workers in the Moscow region city of Korolyov according to Novaya Gazeta. It comes just weeks ahead of Russia's parliamentary elections on September 17 - a vital event as the elected parliament will remain beyond 2024 when Vladimir Putin is supposed to leave office in the next presidential election. Putin's United Russia party is struggling against historically low popularity ratings ahead of the election in its attempt to maintain a supermajority in Russia's Parliament or 'Duma'. United Russia is struggling against historically low popularity ratings ahead of the election in its attempt to maintain a supermajority in Russia's Parliament or 'Duma'.

Source: Daily Mail September 03, 2021 15:25 UTC