YEKATERINBURG, December 26 (RIA Novosti) - United Russia, commonly known as Russia's ruling party, has taken a substantial lead in elections to the local legislature in the Urals, the regional election commission said Monday.
According to the preliminary results of Sunday's elections in the Chelyabinsk Region, the United Russia won 52.2% of the vote, while the Communist Party of the Russian Federation came in second with 12.6%, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) with 9% and Rodina (Motherland) with 6.9%.
The remaining three parties did not break the 5% barrier required for representation in the legislature. Yabloko secured 2.3% of the vote, and the Union of Right Forces and the Social Democratic Party of Russia garnered 1.8% and 1.8%, respectively.
Chelyabinsk Region residents are electing 60 deputies to the regional legislature in single-seat constituencies from party lists. The ballot count is being finalized.
