September 21, 2026 | 06:57 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of Russian citizens in Indonesia hope that the Russian legislative elections held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, will serve as a moment to strengthen friendly relations between Indonesia and Russia.
"Indonesia is a great country; I really like it. I hope there will be more opportunities for Indonesia and Russia to work together," said Iaroslava Radugina, a Russian citizen who cast her vote at the Russian Embassy in Jakarta.
Radugina, who has lived in Indonesia for two years and is currently pursuing higher education in Jakarta, noted that this legislative election marked the first time she had exercised her right to vote since becoming eligible.
"I feel nervous today, but also happy," she said, adding that her participation in this election signifies a new stage in her adult life.
She views the election as a crucial moment for the public to determine the future direction of the Russian government.
Representing the younger generation, Radugina hopes the election results will lead to a more stable future and create greater opportunities for young people across various sectors.
Echoing this sentiment, another Russian citizen voting in Jakarta, Olga Lukianova, shares the hope that relations between Indonesia and Russia will continue to improve.
"I hope relations between Indonesia and Russia will continue to grow and develop across various sectors," Lukianova said.
She hopes that through this election, the future Russian parliament will strive to ensure greater well-being, health, and happiness for the Russian people, herself included.
Lukianova also noted that the voting process at the Russian Embassy in Jakarta proceeded smoothly and safely, meaning Russian citizens in Indonesia did not need to worry about their safety while casting their votes.
The legislative elections for the lower house of the Russian Parliament—held concurrently with regional leadership and regional legislative elections—took place over three days, from September 18 to 20.
Russian voters could choose candidates from 11 political parties participating in the election. According to Sputnik, a total of 20,700 legislative and regional leadership seats are being contested in this election. Polling stations for the Russian election in Indonesia opened on Sunday in Jakarta and Denpasar for a full 12 hours, from 08:00 to 20:00 local time.
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