Russia goes to the polls in presidential election

March 18, 2018 11:45 am

Polls have opened in Russia’s presidential election, in which incumbent Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in office.

Voting began in the Russian far-east at 20:00 GMT on Saturday, and opened in Moscow nine hours later.

The first results will arrive on Sunday evening. Mr Putin has been Russia’s dominant leader since 1999, either as president or prime minister.

He is hoping for another six-year term and faces seven other candidates.

His rivals include a millionaire communist, Pavel Grudinin, a former reality television host, Ksenia Sobchak and the veteran nationalist, Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

The main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has been prohibited from standing, because of a fraud conviction that he said was politically motivated.

-Agencies-

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