Russian voters have delivered a significant blow to Vladimir Putin's ruling party by reducing its majority in parliament, indicating a growing dissatisfaction with his leadership as he prepares to return to the presidency. Preliminary results show that Putin's United Russia party struggled to secure even 50 percent of the votes in the recent election, a sharp decline from the more than 64 percent it received four years ago. Opposition parties have accused the government of fraudulently inflating the results. Despite the likelihood of Putin winning the presidential election in March, the outcome of Sunday's election could weaken his authority. United Russia currently holds 49.94 percent of the votes, with results from 70 percent of voting districts counted for the State Duma election. Exit polls also showed United Russia receiving less than 50 percent of the vote. According to Vladimir Ryzhkov, a liberal opposition leader who was not allowed to run in the election, these elections are unique because they took place during a period of declining trust in Putin, Medvedev, and the ruling party. Ryzhkov believes that the upcoming presidential election in March will result in an even larger political crisis, with more disappointment, frustration, and disenchantment leading to a greater protest vote. Putin is known for restoring order in a country that was in turmoil following the collapse of the Soviet Union, including putting down a separatist rebellion in Chechnya and overseeing an economic recovery. He has maintained a tough guy persona by doing stunts like riding a horse shirtless, tracking tigers, and flying a fighter plane. However, the public seems to be getting tired of these antics, and although his popularity is still high, it has decreased. Many people, disillusioned with the widespread corruption, now see United Russia as the party of dishonest people and criminals, and they are unhappy about the large wealth gap. Some are worried that Putin's return to the presidency could bring about 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 short appearance at a quiet meeting at United Russia headquarters. Medvedev stated that United Russia, which previously had a two-thirds majority enabling it to modify the constitution without opposition support, was willing to form alliances on specific issues to gain support for legislation. Putin, aged 59, described this as an ideal outcome that accurately reflects the current situation in the country and ensures stable development. However, this news may not be as positive for the man who has been a dominant figure in Russian politics since taking office in 1999, with concerns rising that voters feel deceived by his decision to switch roles with Medvedev next year and disheartened by the prospect of another decade under the leadership of the same person. "It's the start of the downfall," political analysts Andrei Piontkovsky remarked, noting a decline in both the party's and the country's reputation due to the election results. The Communist Party saw significant gains, nearly doubling their vote share to approximately 20 percent, two decades after the Soviet Union's collapse. "Russia has a different political landscape now, regardless of attempts to alter the narrative," observed communist parliamentarian Sergei Obukhov. While some voters supported the Communist Party's ideals, many cast their ballots as a protest against United Russia, viewing the Party as the only viable opposition. 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, but ultimately had to do so to vote against everything they stood for. Opposition parties raised concerns about election irregularities across a vast expanse of the country, while a Western-funded electoral watchdog and two liberal media outlets reported being targeted by hackers attempting to silence allegations of violations. Despite President Medvedev denying claims of fraud, police detained 70 people in St. Petersburg and dozens in Moscow during protests against alleged election misconduct. Opposition parties are claiming that the election was not fair due to the authorities' backing of United Russia with financial resources and television coverage. According to independent political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin, an analysis revealed that United Russia's support decreased even more in urban areas, where they had 30-35 percent of the votes compared to the Communist party's 20-25 percent. Oreshkin believes this is a challenging situation for Putin, as he is accustomed to having complete control but now faces a presidential campaign with United Russia alienating people against their leader. Putin currently does not face any significant challengers as the leader of Russia. He is still the main decision-maker between the various groups that oversee the largest energy-producing country in the world. This situation also negatively impacts Medvedev, who led United Russia in the recent election. His credibility as the future prime minister may now be doubted.