Russia "in silence": Tomorrow the presidential elections take place

Today from midnight in the whole of Russia there is a "Day of Silence."

During the day before the election for President of Russia, which will be held tomorrow, March 4, any campaigning and political
advertising is prohibited. Only campaign materials put up before midnight may remain in place, but with the condition that they are located no closer than 50 meters from a polling station.

According to the law, the ban on campaigning the day before the election is aimed at allowing voters to determine their final choice in a relaxed atmosphere.

All the polling stations of the country where the presidential elections will be held on March 4 have been put under intensified round-the-clock guard by the police, RIA Novosti reports with reference to a representative of the Russian Interior Ministry.

"According to the algorithm of ensuring security, the day before the election, all polling stations are checked by dog experts with dogs and examined with the latest technical equipment," the agency's spokesman says. "After that, intensified round-the-clock security has been set up, which will be stepped down only after the ballots are taken away."

The Interior Ministry stressed that on the day of elections all polling stations will be watched by police officers, whose task is not only law enforcement but also prevention of violations of electoral law. Most polling stations are equipped with metal detectors and surveillance systems.

In Moscow, in schools where polling stations have been installed, classes have been cancelled from Friday March 2 until Monday March 5.

Today in the Russian capital a presentation of the Russian CEC Information Center, "Election 2012", for foreign (international) observers and representatives of the diplomatic corps, is taking place. It was opened at 11.00 a.m. by the Chairman of the CEC of Russia, Vladimir Churov, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the Central Electoral Commission of Russia.

"The program review for foreign visitors covers a wide range of issues related to the presidential elections in Russia, including a presentation on the provision of modern facilities at polling stations (Cohiba and CEG) and a demonstration of their capabilities, as well as familiarity with the equipment of the model precinct," the CEC noted.

International observers will be informed about the procedure of passing voting data from the RECs to the CEC of Russia, and about the system of informing voters about the voting and counting. In addition, observers will be acquainted with the peculiarities of the work of the Internet-portal of the CEC of Russia during the preparation and holding of presidential elections.

Guests will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the organization of the stations of "hot line" communication with voters, created by the CEC of Russia, as well as those representing public and non-governmental organizations operating under the auspices of the "Russian Foundation for Free Elections."

On March 4-5, 2012, in the building of the Central Electoral Commission of Russia, located in Moscow at 9 Bolshoi Cherkassky Pereulok, the Information Center of Russian CEC "Elections 2012" will be organized. The information will be transmitted there in real time via the State Automated System of the Russian Federation "Elections."

The candidates competing for the post of head of state, for the first time being elected for a term of six years, are Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, head of the Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky, candidate from the "A Just Russia" party Sergei Mironov, and self-promoted billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov.

The electoral campaign for the election of the Russian president was launched on November 26, 2011. The most interesting phase of the campaign - the period when the candidates and their representatives participated in debates, campaigned to vote for them in  commercials on TV and radio stations, met with voters and conducted meetings - began on February 4, 2012.

According to experts, the propaganda campaign of the presidential candidates was one of the strongest and most interesting in the last decade.

On the federal television channels "Russia 1", "Russia 24", "Channel" and "TV CENTER - Moscow" a marathon campaign of verbal duels between candidates and their representatives lasted for almost month. For this purpose, channels provided the candidates with free broadcast in prime time.

The candidates were also granted free air time the on radio stations "Radio Russia", "Lighthouse", "Vesti FM" and "Voice of Russia," as well as the print area of 12 newspapers and one magazine. If, according to experts, not all applicants for the post of the state leader performed vividly in the debates, then at rallies in their support they spoke more persuasively.

The final voting results of the CEC must be determined no later than March 14, and by  March 17 they must be officially published. The newly-elected president will take office on May 7.