Russians vote in regional elections

[News_Editor]

Russians vote in regional elections

2011-03-14 01:13:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

MOSCOW (BNO NEWS) -- Millions of Russians went to the polls on Sunday to vote in regional elections, RIA Novosti reported.

According to preliminary results from the Central Election Commission, the ruling United Russia party is widely leading in the elections seen as a popularity test for Vladimir Putin's ruling party amid rising unemployment and housing and utilities prices.

More than 24 million Russians were expected to vote in the elections to local authorities held in 74 out of 83 Russian regions. All of the seven main Russian political parties are participating, but only four of them, the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, the opposition A Just Russia party, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Communist Party, appeared in lists of parliamentary elections in 12 regions.

Overall, about 3,200 local elections are being held in the country on United Voting Day on Sunday. Among the candidates is Russian billionaire and FC Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is running as an independent candidate for the Chukotka regional legislature. He was governor of Russia's easternmost region from 2001 to 2008 and is currently chairman of the Chukotka Duma. If elected, he may again become head of the regional legislature.

According to media reports, opposition parties accused the ruling United Russia party of attempting to prevent free and fair polls. Prior to the elections, there were reports of demonstrations against poll-rigging.

At last year's regional elections held on October 11, opposition parties claimed electoral fraud after the ruling United Russia party won by a landslide. President Dmitry Medvedev said the country needed tighter supervision to ensure fair voting.

Russia is holding parliamentary polls in December and a presidential vote in March 2012.

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