Russian election observer loses consciousness during arrest by police, opposition party says

Russia’s liberal opposition Yabloko party said that one of its election observers lost consciousness while being arrested by police at a St. Petersburg polling station on Saturday, the second day of a tightly controlled parliamentary election.

The voting to elect members of the State Duma is Russia's first parliamentary election since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The three-day election, which began Friday and ends Sunday, features virtually no opposition and is all but certain to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance.

Yabloko said that officials at the polling station accused a party election observer of attempting to “disrupt the elections” and called the police, which “used force” against him.

It was unclear whether he received prompt medical attention after falling unconscious, the party said in a statement on Telegram Saturday, adding that he was taken to a police station and charged with disobeying police orders.

Russian officials didn't immediately comment on the incident.

Yabloko, the only registered political entity that dared to criticize Russia's war with Ukraine, was removed from the ballot last month by Russia’s Supreme Court, and only has a few dozen candidates in the single-constituency races. Additionally, some anti-war politicians have been imprisoned or forced to flee abroad before the campaign.

Yabloko and the Communist Party, which has criticized some aspects of government policy but carefully avoided any criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that many of their election observers were turned away from polling stations.

The parties also reported various violations, including sealed ballot boxes being opened, the refusal to issue paper ballots and provide turnout data for verification, and doors to polling stations not being secured overnight.

On Friday, Yabloko’s leader appealed to Ella Pamfilova, head of the Central Election Commission, over what the party said were numerous denials of entry to its observers and pressure on them.

“The scale of what’s happening does not allow us to view this as a misunderstanding,” Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov said.

Russia didn't invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the election, with the Russian Foreign Ministry accusing the body of “double standards” for its criticism of Russia.

It said that it had invited other international organizations, as well as observers from OSCE member states, in its place.

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons said that the decision was a breach of Russia’s commitments as a member state of the organization.

“This persistent rejection of independent scrutiny follows a deeply worrying pattern of disregard for the principles of transparency, democratic accountability and the rule of law,” he said.

Russia’s Central Election Commission said that more than 380,000 electoral observers had been registered before the vote, including representatives from 11 political parties. Of those registered, 97,040 observers were linked to the United Russia party, with the next largest group, 42,743 observers, representing Russia’s Communist Party.

It also said that 1,126 international election observers and “electoral experts” have been registered from 133 countries and 13 international organizations.

Russia also tightened restrictions on election observers in the lead-up to the parliamentary vote. Under a new code of ethics, observers are banned from making statements “that could be construed as undermining confidence in the electoral system.”

Russian authorities spread the parliamentary election over the weekend in a bid to boost turnout among the 111 million eligible voters, and they allowed electronic balloting.

For the first time, the parliamentary election includes residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed after the war began, but still doesn’t fully control. Voting also is taking place in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

The Kremlin wants the vote to underline public support for the war in Ukraine and give a veneer of legitimacy to it. It has sought to avoid any political risks by stamping out even the slightest sign of dissent.

The main Kremlin party, United Russia, is all but assured to retain its overwhelming control of the lower house, the State Duma. Several smaller parties of the “systemic opposition” that vote in sync with the government on all key issues also are expected to retain their presence.

Voters use an electronic voting system in the parliamentary election in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

A woman smiles as she speaks to an election commission employee, left, after using an electronic voting system in the parliamentary election in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

A voter uses an electronic voting system in the parliamentary election in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

The New People's party leader Alexei Nechayev waits to receive a ballot to vote in the parliamentary election in Moscow, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov) CAPTION CORRECTION: Corrects spelling of first name from Alexey to Alexei

A voter leaves a polling booth after casting a vote during the parliamentary election in Podolsk, Moscow region, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 120-105 victory over the Washington Wizards and former Hawks star guard Trae Young on Wednesday night.

Alexander-Walker hit six 3-pointers after sinking a career-high-tying nine in a 104-102 win at Indiana on Monday.

Onyeka Okongwu added 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawks in their first time playing against Young, who finished with 18 points, since trading the four-time All-Star to the Wizards in January.

CJ McCollum and Aaron Wiggins scored 15 points each to help Atlanta make up for All-Star forward Jalen Johnson missing his second straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Anthony Davis had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Washington.

Kyshawn George added 25 points for the Wizards, who trailed throughout the final three quarters.

Atlanta built its game-high lead of 16 in the second with a 13-0 run.

Asa Newell hit a tip-in at the first-quarter buzzer, and Zuby Ejiofor hit two transition baskets, prompting a quick timeout from Wizards coach Brian Keefe. But the surge continued, with Kingston Flemings hitting a runner and Wiggins sinking a 3-pointer before Dyson Daniels' driving layup made it 48-32 with 9:06 left in the half.

Washington closed within seven by halftime and cut it to four twice in the third, the latter time on Young's step-back 3 to make it 83-79.

But Corey Kispert — a player Atlanta received when dealing Young — converted a four-point play on the following possession, and the game never got closer than six afterward.

The Hawks and Wizards close their home-and-home set in Friday's NBA Cup tilt in Atlanta.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Atlanta Hawks guard Aaron Wiggins (2) shoots a three point basket as Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis (23) shoots the ball over Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) handles the ball as Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa (4) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young passes the ball as Atlanta Hawks guard Luguentz Dort defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)