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Russians vote for new president Strong turnout in Russian polls
(about 2 hours later)
Voting is under way in Russia's presidential poll, bringing to a close Vladimir Putin's eight years in office. Russia's presidential election has seen a turnout of nearly 60%, officials say.
Polling stations in the Far East opened at 2000 GMT Saturday, in a vote pitting first deputy prime minister Dmitry Medvedev against three challengers. First deputy PM Dmitry Medvedev - the Kremlin's chosen candidate - is expected to easily beat his three challengers, correspondents say.
Mr Medvedev, the Kremlin's preferred candidate, has promised to make Mr Putin his prime minister. But the Kremlin wanted a good turnout to counter criticism that the vote was not fair.
Observers say the poll's outcome is not in doubt and the only question is the turnout in favour of Mr Medvedev. Various inducements were offered to mobilise voters, including cheap food, free cinema tickets or toys, correspondents say.
There are also reports that many workers were told to vote by their bosses.
The election brings to a close Vladimir Putin's eight years in office.
Observers say the poll's outcome is not in doubt. Mr Medvedev, 42, the Kremlin's preferred candidate, has promised to make Mr Putin his prime minister.
The electoral commission chief, Vladimir Churov, said turnout was higher than in the December parliamentary election.The electoral commission chief, Vladimir Churov, said turnout was higher than in the December parliamentary election.
CANDIDATES FOR POWER Dmitry Medvedev: First deputy prime minister and chairman of Gazprom, endorsed by President PutinGennady Zyuganov: Veteran Communist Party leaderVladimir Zhirinovsky: Ultra-nationalist leaderAndrei Bogdanov: Little-known head of small Democratic Party Wooed with caps and foodIn pictures: Russia votesQ&A: Russian electionsCANDIDATES FOR POWER Dmitry Medvedev: First deputy prime minister and chairman of Gazprom, endorsed by President PutinGennady Zyuganov: Veteran Communist Party leaderVladimir Zhirinovsky: Ultra-nationalist leaderAndrei Bogdanov: Little-known head of small Democratic Party Wooed with caps and foodIn pictures: Russia votesQ&A: Russian elections
"Practically in all constituent parts of the Russian Federation turnout is higher," he said. But the independent Russian election watchdog Golos has condemned what it sees as coercion to ensure a high turnout.
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Vladivostok, in the Far East, says there was barely any campaigning by any of the candidates and there is little excitement amongst the electorate. Yet voting has been steady there, he says. "There can't be a small turnout when people are forced to go to the polls," said Golos deputy director Grigory Melkonyan, quoted by the AFP news agency.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the turnout showed that many people "are choosing to vote for a continuation of the changes" made by Mr Putin.
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Vladivostok, in the Far East, says there was barely any campaigning by any of the candidates and little excitement amongst the electorate.
Medvedev media blitzMedvedev media blitz
Mr Putin, hugely popular because of Russia's economic boom, was barred by the constitution from seeking a third term.Mr Putin, hugely popular because of Russia's economic boom, was barred by the constitution from seeking a third term.
How Russians will vote through the dayEnlarge Map
In the run-up to the vote Russia's main television channels gave generous coverage to Mr Medvedev, who refused to debate with his rivals.In the run-up to the vote Russia's main television channels gave generous coverage to Mr Medvedev, who refused to debate with his rivals.
The other candidates are: Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, nationalist Liberal Democrat Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Democratic Party candidate Andrei Bogdanov.The other candidates are: Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, nationalist Liberal Democrat Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Democratic Party candidate Andrei Bogdanov.
Saturday was declared an official "day of silence", with no campaigning allowed across Russia's 11 time zones. More than 109 million Russians were registered to vote in the elections.
More than 109 million Russians are registered to vote in the elections.
Voting closes in the western enclave of Kaliningrad at 1800 GMT on Sunday.Voting closes in the western enclave of Kaliningrad at 1800 GMT on Sunday.
Pressure to votePressure to vote
Mr Medvedev, 42, voted in Moscow, saying "spring has arrived - although it is raining, a new season has come". Mr Medvedev voted in Moscow, saying "spring has arrived - although it is raining, a new season has come".
How Russians will vote through the dayEnlarge Map
Before his rise to power in the Kremlin he trained as a lawyer in St Petersburg, where he also worked alongside Vladimir Putin. But unlike Mr Putin, he has no background in the security services.Before his rise to power in the Kremlin he trained as a lawyer in St Petersburg, where he also worked alongside Vladimir Putin. But unlike Mr Putin, he has no background in the security services.
There has been very little scrutiny of voting by Western election observers, many of whom stayed away, and there are already reports of irregularities. There has been very little scrutiny of voting by Western election observers, many of whom stayed away.
Civil servants have been ordered by their managers to vote, and there are reports that police and teachers are under similar pressure, our correspondent in Vladivostok says. Civil servants were ordered by their managers to vote, and there are reports that police and teachers were under similar pressure, our correspondent in Vladivostok says.
A prominent critic of the Kremlin, former chess champion Garry Kasparov, told the BBC that support for Mr Putin and his allies was not self-evident.A prominent critic of the Kremlin, former chess champion Garry Kasparov, told the BBC that support for Mr Putin and his allies was not self-evident.
"Mr Putin never stood for free and fair elections and when you talk about his big numbers they are obviously inflated by the pro-Kremlin polling organisations", he said."Mr Putin never stood for free and fair elections and when you talk about his big numbers they are obviously inflated by the pro-Kremlin polling organisations", he said.
Western criticismWestern criticism
The main European election monitoring body - the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) - decided not to send a delegation. The main European election monitoring body - the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - decided not to send a delegation.
It said the Russian authorities were planning to impose unacceptable restrictions on its work. The OSCE complained about Russian limits on the number of observers and on the duration of their stay.It said the Russian authorities were planning to impose unacceptable restrictions on its work. The OSCE complained about Russian limits on the number of observers and on the duration of their stay.
In a sign of continuing unrest in the Caucasus, two bomb explosions targeted a police convoy on Sunday in the Russian republic of Dagestan.In a sign of continuing unrest in the Caucasus, two bomb explosions targeted a police convoy on Sunday in the Russian republic of Dagestan.
Several people were reported injured in the attack in Khasavyurt, near the border with Chechnya.Several people were reported injured in the attack in Khasavyurt, near the border with Chechnya.