Russian voters have significantly reduced Vladimir Putin's ruling party's control in parliament in an election that reflects a growing dissatisfaction with his leadership as he prepares to become president again. Preliminary results indicate that Putin's United Russia party struggled to secure even 50 percent of the votes in Sunday's election, a significant drop from the over 64 percent they received four years ago. Opposition parties claim that this outcome was still exaggerated due to fraudulent practices. While Putin is expected to win the presidential election in March, the results from Sunday could undermine his authority. United Russia obtained 49.94 percent of the votes after counting in 70 percent of voting districts for the State Duma election. Exit polls have indicated that United Russia did not receive more than 50 percent of the vote. Liberal opposition leader Vladimir Ryzhkov, who was not allowed to run in the elections, stated that there is a lack of trust in Putin, Medvedev, and the ruling party. He believes that the upcoming presidential election in March will result in a larger political crisis with more disappointment, frustration, and protest votes. Putin is known for restoring order in a country that faced chaos after the collapse of the Soviet Union, including quelling a separatist rebellion in Chechnya and overseeing an economic recovery. He has maintained a tough guy image by doing stunts like riding a horse shirtless, tracking tigers, and flying a fighter plane. However, the public seems to be tired of his actions and although he is still popular, his popularity has decreased. Many voters are tired of the widespread corruption and view United Russia as a party of dishonest individuals and resent the large gap between the rich and poor. Some are worried that Putin's return to the presidency might bring economic and political stagnation. Putin and Medvedev, who took over the presidency in 2008 when Putin had to step down after serving two consecutive terms, made a brief appearance at a quiet meeting at United Russia headquarters. Medvedev stated that United Russia, which previously had a two-thirds majority allowing them to change the constitution without opposition support, was willing to form alliances on specific issues in order to gain support for legislation. Putin, 59, commented that this outcome reflects the current situation in the country and ensures stable development. However, there was not much to celebrate for the man who has been a dominant figure in Russian politics since he took over as acting president in 1999 and was elected head of state shortly after. His path back to the presidency may now be more complex, as there are signs that voters feel deceived by his decision to switch roles with Medvedev next year and are concerned about the prospect of one man leading for over a decade. "It's the start of the downfall," Andrei Piontkovsky, a political analyst, remarked. He noted that the recent election results indicated a decline in the party's and country's standing. The Communist Party saw significant gains, nearly doubling their vote share to approximately 20 percent, two decades after the Soviet Union's collapse. Sergei Obukhov, a communist lawmaker, acknowledged that Russia now faces a new political landscape, regardless of attempts to manipulate the narrative. Many voters expressed their discontent with United Russia by supporting the Communists, seen as a credible opposition force by some Russians. Yulia Serpikova, a 27-year-old freelance location manager in the film industry, sadly recalled promising her grandfather she would never vote for the Communists, only to find herself having to do so to vote against them. Opposition parties raised concerns about election irregularities across a vast expanse of the country, with a Western-funded electoral watchdog and two liberal media outlets reporting that their websites were hacked in an attempt to silence allegations of violations. Despite President Medvedev denying claims of electoral fraud, police detained 70 people in St. Petersburg and dozens in Moscow during protests against the alleged fraud. Opposition parties are claiming that the election was biased from the beginning due to the support given to United Russia by authorities in the form of financial backing and television coverage. Independent political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin pointed out that a separate analysis revealed a decline in support for United Russia, particularly in cities where they received between 30-35 percent of the votes compared to the Communist party's 20-25 percent. Oreshkin believes this unfavorable climate could pose a challenge for Putin in the upcoming presidential campaign, as United Russia's actions have turned people against their leader. Putin currently does not have any significant competitors for the position of Russia's leader. He continues to be the final decision-maker between the various clans that oversee the largest energy producer in the world. This situation also negatively impacts Medvedev, who led United Russia in the election. There may now be doubts about his legitimacy as the future prime minister. ($1 = 30.8947 Russian roubles).