12.2% turnout in Russian presidential elections by 10:00

Turnout reached 12.2 percent in Russia by 10:00 am, the deputy head of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of the Russian Federation Leonid Ivlev announced. He noted that the current voter turnout is much higher for this time than in federal elections in recent years in the country. In comparison, turnout at 10:00 am was 5.3 percent at the State Duma elections on 4th December 2011, and 8.9 percent at the presidential election in 2008, Trend cites RBC as saying.

About 110 million Russians, including about 1.8 million of our compatriots abroad, have the right to participate in the presidential elections in Russia. About 95 thousand polling stations have been formed for the elections.

There are 5 candidates for the presidency. Four of them are nominated by the parliamentary parties: Vladimir Zhirinovsky is nominated by the Liberal Democratic Party, Gennady Zyuganov - by the Communist Party, Sergei Mironov - "A Just Russia", Vladimir Putin - "United Russia" and an independent candidate Mikhail Prokhorov.