Chinks are appearing in United Russia’s armour. Russia’s biggest party lost Vladimir Shtop, mayor in Berdsk, Novosibirsk Region, to Ilya Potanov of the next biggest party, the Communists.
The opposition believe that what Kommersant describes as the heaviest blow to United Russia in the municipal elections was made possible by a united front from opposition parties.
They were then able to capitalise on dissatisfaction with United Russia and the management of the town administration, the business daily reported.