Thanks to almost total control of the media along with restrictions on opposition parties that are considered most undemocratic, Vladmir Putin's United Russia Party is widely expected to trounce the opposition and gain a landslide victory in elections to the Russian Duma being held today:

Putin -- who cannot seek a third presidential term under Russia's constitution -- has said he would consider taking the prime minister's post if his party achieves a landslide victory in Sunday's voting but his future duties and powers are unclear.

Putin holds the top spot on United Russia's list of candidates, which guarantees him a seat in parliament. Under Putin, once-impoverished Russia has become rich with oil revenue and powerful on the world stage while the war against separatists in Chechnya has faded from view.

All of this has made him popular with many Russians. "We believe in Putin, and we love Putin dearly," Tamara Posekhova, a mass-goer at the Moscow cathedral told The Associated Press. "We want him to go on working for the country."

But the election has been marred by controversy as opposition parties have accused the government of stifling their campaign efforts and independent election monitors have said their work has been hampered.