Russia: Kremlin party claims sweeping victory in local elections

Russia’s main pro-Kremlin party is claiming a clear win in local polls, seen as a big test of its popularity.

A top United Russia official said all its candidates for governor were well ahead and it was set to win majorities in all regional legislatures.But the opposition said it won seats in Siberian cities.

There have been numerous reports of irregularities.

The polls come only weeks after the suspected poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny with Novichok.His team had been urging Russians to vote tactically against United Russia.

The Anti-Corruption Foundation had pledged support for candidates it saw as best placed to unseat incumbents of the ruling party, which it describes as the “party of crooks and thieves”.