Russian Duma elections begin; party-list leaders' wealth and power ties scrutinized

Three-day State Duma elections opened in Russia with five parliamentary parties campaigning on welfare promises. An investigative report highlights the significant personal wealth of party-list leaders and the power connections of their relatives, underscoring a disconnect between elite privilege and voter concerns. The outcome is expected to maintain the current political balance, with the report adding to pre-election scrutiny of the ruling elite.