The show goes on: Russians show up to the 2026 elections with pets and in costumes, while experts document violations.
Russia's regions are entering the second day of voting in the 2026 elections. Polling stations have once again turned into carnivals with fairs, but on social media, citizens are ridiculing the process and actively reporting fraud.
Opened safe-packets in Yakutsk and the Central Election Commission's response
In Yakutsk, on the night after the first day of voting, observers from several parties united to form the "Night Watch" group. They discovered that at one polling station, safes containing ballots had been opened around 3:00 AM. The observers immediately called the police. The safe turned out to be empty, and law enforcement officers detained the precinct election commission chairperson and his deputy, who provided a statement.
Ella Pamfilova, head of the Central Election Commission, commented on the violations. Specifically, she sharply criticized the commission's work and called its members irresponsible:
“You either have no brains at all, or I don’t even know, complete irresponsibility.”
In addition, on Saturday, a man dressed as Batman appeared at a polling station in the Yakut village of Prigorodny.
"When the city falls asleep, what awakens... no, not the mafia. What awakens is the Night Watch of the second day of elections. He is the night. He is retribution."
Carnivalization of elections and protests
Meanwhile, in other regions, the mass carnivalization of elections continues. For example, in Mari El, Chukotka, and Yakutia, voters came to the polls in national costumes, and in Omsk Oblast, citizens cast their ballots in life-size shark suits.
Our furry and feathered friends are also keeping up with the electoral process. In the Novosibirsk region, a cat performed his feline civic duty alongside his owner. Meanwhile, in Tyumen, a domestic goose named Donald oversaw the correct choice.
Videos calling for a "Midday Against Putin" protest are also appearing on social media. Opposition candidates are calling for a mass turnout at 12:00 PM on September 20th to visually assess the number of people who do not support the ruling party. The video's creators hope that a large number of people will participate.
In addition, ironic videos about the elections are being published online. In particular, a parody report from a polling station at the magical academy Hogwarts has gained popularity, where wizards perform a "magic spell" and the United Britain party wins 146% of the vote.
