Russia election: Your voices

With most of the votes counted in Russia's parliamentary elections, the party founded by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has suffered a significant setback.

United Russia was expected to have enough seats to form a slim parliamentary majority.

BBC News website readers in Russia have been sharing their views - many said they were disappointed with the result so far, while others expressed their support for Mr Putin's party.

Anton, Sergiev Posad

Anton is worried about repercussions after deciding not to vote

I could not vote because those I would have voted for were not allowed to take part in the elections.

There was no-one I would vote for on the list that was offered. What was worse, I could not even do something to show my feelings - there was no "against all" field to tick.

Normally I am not a politically-oriented person but I feel it is important to tell the world about what I have seen.

It feels so wrong what I see is going on.

My friends jokingly say it is risky to give my details to you. But every joke has an element of seriousness. I wouldn't go out on the streets in Moscow tonight as I don't want to be arrested.

How can people have this fear that it is dangerous to tell what you think? That your opinion can result in some adverse reactions?

Fear is not the best way to reach the majority on the elections.

I had never heard of this happening before but even old ladies criticise the ruling party now.

Andrew, Novosibirsk

Andrew voted for President Putin in the past but feels it is time for him to go

I voted for the party that I really do not sympathise with, but that would allow me a strong voice against the party that governs - United Russia.

I voted for the Communist Party. They are a powerful opposition and I hoped enough people would vote so that it would result in discussions in parliament rather than a government making decisions and rushing them through without a real debate.

Many people I know did the same as me.

People here are very disappointed in the United Russia and fake-president Dmitry Medvedev.

I am personally frustrated that Putin is going to take part in the presidential election next year and the time of presidency has been extended to six years.

While I voted for him the first and second time, this time I think it's not the right decision.

That's not a democracy, that's dictatorship.

In my city, which is the third largest in Russia, Communist Party took first place while United Russia was second. That's the sign that people are against the governing party and that makes me glad.

I hope that we will have strong opposition in our parliament and there will be a dialogue.

Julia, Vladivostok

Julia thinks Russia has further to go in the search for democracy

I voted for the Yabloko party to win the election.

There is no chance for democracy while Vladimir Putin is a ruler in Russia.

Putin's regime is not a democracy, it's authoritarianism.

When we will be able to dethrone Mr Putin we will have a chance for democracy.

For a fair election we need a lot of international observers. They are more independent and they will be more objective.

People in Russia don't love the United Russia party because it is the "bureaucracy party."

I do not believe in the results of these elections. The United Russia party has got the votes it has because of students and state workers - they are the ones who agreed to vote for the political party.

But they had no option - it was necessary for them to choose the party if they were to find work.

The United Russia party also tried to target other groups - including those who are retired. The officials gave these people gifts - not so expensive products in order to win their vote.

I am disappointed by the outcome.

We have not got democracy in our country.

Peter, Moscow

United Russia will be first. Communists will be second.

And the others will... etc.

We cannot do anything.

We need a parliament of two houses as in the UK. We need parliament with two big parties.

But instead, we have a parliament where one party dominates. Other parties have very different views but they cannot form an opposition.

Alexander, St Petersburg

I don't expect much.

United Russia will get the most votes - that is for definite.

I'm not sure that replacing them with the Communist Party will ever be a good idea.

Soldiers in uniform were expected to vote

I would rather a vote go to United Russia than the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR).

Meanwhile, Fair Russia is a puppet opposition, the leader of which knows Putin well and supported him and was the speaker of Federation Council until he fell out of trust.

I'd give my voice for Yabloko, but I doubt that they'll pass the seven percent barrier... so there is not much to hope on.

The only difference this time is that United Russia has fewer voices supporting them.

Mikhail, St Petersburg

It is those, mainly city-dwellers, who didn't vote at all, who ensured the majority of Putin's United Russia party in the new Russian Duma, rather than the percentage of total number of voters who actually voted for them - willingly or not.

That means that the Russian big city's bourgeoisie either do not care about the country's future or do not believe that their vote is that important, which basically means the same thing.

While there probably were some "violations and fraud" in favour of the ruling party, these would be much harder to perform if more voters would bother to turn up.

It is easy to blame 'Putin's regime' for everything. It is more difficult to actually go and vote in an attempt to force through change.

Anyway it is still a bit of victory as the ruling elite should get the feeling that they have to start really fighting the corruption instead of just constantly talking about it.