United Russia’s approval rating is very low, and in a fair election its candidates would, of course, suffer a crushing defeat. That is why the state is now doing everything possible to add at least a few percentage points to the ruling party’s total. The Central Election Commission is trying hardest of all — a body that exists solely to ensure that United Russia wins again and again in every election. Vladimir Putin knows that without the fraud of the Central Election Commission’s members, he will not be able to hold on to power. In our new investigation, Maria Pevchikh @pevchikh_m explains how the president rewards these crooks.