When Russian local elections didn’t go President Vladimir Putin’s way on Sept. 8, he didn’t take it well. Despite the usual techniques of banning and jailing opposition candidates, beating peaceful protesters and putting the full weight of state-controlled media behind favored candidates, Putin’s United Russia party lost seats across the country, especially in Moscow.
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(FILES) In this file photo taken on Feb. 22, 2018 Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech before the gala in the Grand Kremlin Palace marking the Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
