According to preliminary results, United Russia has won a landslide victory in 13 of the regions, trailing only the new Just Russia party in the Stavropol Territory. The Communists and the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), which are also represented in the State Duma, took third and fourth place, respectively, in most regions.
The regional ballots held in 14 regions across Russia, involving about a third of the country's electorate, are regarded as a dress rehearsal for elections to the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, scheduled for December 2.
In St. Petersburg, the second largest city in the country, United Russia gained over 37% of the votes, while Just Russia won almost 22%, the Communist party - 16%, and the LDPR - about 11%.
Sergei Mironov, leader of the Just Russia party and speaker of the upper house of Russia's parliament, said the apparent success of the Communists and the LDPR could neutralize the current political monopoly of the ruling United Russia party, although his own party is largely considered as a Kremlin clone.
The liberal Yabloko party, known for its criticism of President Vladimir Putin's policies, has been an outsider in the election race after it was barred from the elections in St. Petersburg, its main stronghold, and some other regions.
However, another oppositional party, the Union of Right Forces, has shown success in some of the regions, which could be an indication that it may be regaining its former status as "a strong political force."
Meanwhile, about 90% of residents of the Chita Region and the Agin Buryat autonomous district voted Sunday in favor of merging into the Trans-Baikal Territory.
The initiative was launched by local authorities in order to "boost the development of both areas and improve the living conditions of the population."
Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the move as part of the Kremlin's ongoing campaign to simplify the administrative-territorial division of the country, and to further tighten federal control over budget spending and efficient governance in the regions.
