Russians vote in regional, local elections
Millions of Russians are voting in local elections to elect governors and regional parliaments, in a move seen as a litmus test for the country’s ruling party ahead of next year's legislative elections.
Polling stations opened Sunday morning for some 59 million eligible voters in 83 constituencies in Russia’s 18 central regions.
"In Russia, the single day of voting has begun. The first polling stations to open were in [the far eastern] Kamchatka and the Chukotka autonomous region," the Russian central electoral commission said.
Regions will elect 21 governors from among 100 candidates representing 16 parties.
According to a survey by independent polling agency Levada early this month, the ruling Russia United party is expected to win 67 percent of the vote nationwide.
The survey also said the Communist Party is likely to finish the runner-up with just 10 percent of votes.
This is while the main opposition Democratic Coalition party has only been allowed to stand in the Kostroma region.
Opposition candidates claim they were barred from taking part in legislative contests in the regions of Kaluga, Magadan, and Novosibirsk.
Russia is scheduled to hold federal parliamentary elections on September 18 next year.
The outcome of the voting will reflect the opinions of Russians more than one year after financial sanctions were imposed on Moscow by Western powers over allegations that it played a role in the east Ukraine crisis, which has claimed the lives of some 8,000 people since last April. Russia has repeatedly denied the accusations.
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