Russian voters have significantly reduced the parliamentary majority of Vladimir Putin's ruling party in an election that displayed a growing dissatisfaction with his control over the country as he prepares to become president again. Preliminary results indicate that Putin's United Russia party struggled to obtain even 50 percent of the votes in Sunday's election, a decrease from the over 64 percent received four years ago. Opposition parties claim that this result was inflated due to fraudulent activities. Despite the likelihood of Putin winning the presidential election in March, the outcome of Sunday's election could weaken the authority of a man who has governed for nearly 12 years through a combination of stringent security measures, political savvy, and charisma. United Russia had 49.94 percent of the votes after 70 percent of voting districts had reported results for the State Duma election. Exit polls also showed United Russia with less than 50 percent of the vote. Vladimir Ryzhkov, a liberal opposition leader who was not allowed to run, described the elections as unprecedented due to the lack of trust in Putin, Medvedev, and the ruling party. He predicted that the upcoming presidential election in March would result in an even larger political crisis, with more disappointment, frustration, and protest votes. Putin is known for restoring order in a country that had experienced chaos for ten years after the Soviet Union's collapse, including crushing a separatist rebellion in Chechnya and overseeing economic growth. He has maintained a tough guy image by performing daring stunts such as riding a horse shirtless, tracking tigers, and flying a fighter plane. However, the public seems to be tired of his antics, causing his popularity to decrease. Many voters, frustrated with widespread corruption, criticize United Russia as a party of dishonest individuals and are unhappy with the growing wealth gap. Some are concerned that Putin's return to the presidency could lead to 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, recently 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 it to change the constitution without opposition support, was willing to form alliances on specific issues to gain support for legislation. Putin, 59, described this as an optimal outcome that accurately reflects the country's current situation. He believes that this result will ensure the stable development of Russia. However, Putin, who has been a dominant figure in Russian politics since taking over as acting president in 1999 and later being elected head of state, may face challenges in his path back to the presidency. There are indications that voters feel deceived by his decision to switch roles with Medvedev next year, and are worried about the prospect of one man leading the country for over a decade. "It marks the beginning of the end," remarked political analysts Andrei Piontkovsky, referring to the recent results. The outcome signifies a decline in the party's and the country's leaders' reputation. The communist party saw significant gains, nearly doubling their votes to approximately 20 percent, two decades after the Soviet Union's collapse, as per the preliminary results. "Even if they try to alter the narrative, Russia is facing a new political landscape," observed communist lawmaker Sergei Obukhov. A portion of the votes were a form of protest against United Russia rather than an endorsement of communist principles, as some Russians perceive the Party as the sole legitimate opposition force. Yulia Serpikova, a 27-year-old freelance location manager in the film industry, expressed her disappointment at having to vote for the Communists despite promising her grandfather she never would. Opposition parties raised concerns about election irregularities across a vast distance, with a Western-funded electoral watchdog and two liberal media outlets reporting their websites were hacked to silence allegations of violations. Despite President Medvedev denying electoral fraud, police detained 70 people in St Petersburg and several in Moscow during protests against alleged fraud. Opposition parties have criticized the fairness of the election, citing authorities' backing of United Russia through financial support 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 unfavorable environment will pose a challenge for Putin in the upcoming presidential campaign, as United Russia's actions have alienated people from their leader. Putin currently does not face any significant competition for leadership in Russia. He holds the final decision-making power between the various factions that oversee the largest energy-producing country in the world. This situation also affects Medvedev, who led United Russia in the election. There is now uncertainty surrounding his legitimacy as the future prime minister.