`I have voted for those who love my country'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.RUSSIAN FLAGS fluttered in Samotechny Lane yesterday, as residents of my Moscow neighbourhood walked to vote in elections for a new State Duma, writes Helen Womack.
Voters emerging from the polling station in school number 1275 tended to divide into two kinds. Those who were prepared to be open with a foreign journalist had generally voted for Western-leaning liberal parties. Others were more cryptic, like the old man in the wolf-skin hat, who said: "I have voted for those who love Russia as much as you love England. We were allies during the Second World War but now it turns out that good old England does not support Russia."
He was affronted by Western criticism of Moscow's military action in Chechnya. His comment suggested he had voted for the new Unity Party, endorsed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, although a "patriotic" vote could also be for the Communist Party.
An out and out Kremlin opponent is likely to vote Communist but stereotypes can be misleading. Not all Communist supporters are elderly. Zalina, a freelance journalist in her thirties, said she had voted for a nationalist politician linked to the Communists because herpriest had advised her to do so.
And not all old age pensioners are Communists: Galina Alexeyevna, reduced by Boris Yeltsin's reforms to such poverty that she eats only bread, had voted for the pro-Kremlin party, Unity.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments