This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24004840
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Navalny challenges Sobyanin in Moscow mayoral election | Navalny challenges Sobyanin in Moscow mayoral election |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| People in Moscow are due to go to the polls on Sunday for the first mayoral election in nearly a decade. | People in Moscow are due to go to the polls on Sunday for the first mayoral election in nearly a decade. |
| Current mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the Kremlin's candidate, is being challenged by Alexei Navalny, leader of the national protest movement. | Current mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the Kremlin's candidate, is being challenged by Alexei Navalny, leader of the national protest movement. |
| Mr Navalny is currently on bail after being found guilty of embezzlement in what he insists was a political trial. | Mr Navalny is currently on bail after being found guilty of embezzlement in what he insists was a political trial. |
| Mayoral elections were abolished in 2004 but re-instated as a concession to pro-democracy campaigners. | Mayoral elections were abolished in 2004 but re-instated as a concession to pro-democracy campaigners. |
| Mr Navalny has run a Western-style campaign, holding informal meetings with voters outside metro stations, and using glossy posters of himself with his family. | Mr Navalny has run a Western-style campaign, holding informal meetings with voters outside metro stations, and using glossy posters of himself with his family. |
| He is credited with bringing grassroots politics to the Russian capital, inspiring thousands of volunteers to support his campaign. | He is credited with bringing grassroots politics to the Russian capital, inspiring thousands of volunteers to support his campaign. |
| The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow says that if Mr Navalny forces the vote to go to a second round it will be a major setback for the Kremlin. | The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow says that if Mr Navalny forces the vote to go to a second round it will be a major setback for the Kremlin. |
| Mr Sobyanin became mayor in 2010 after Yuri Luzhkov, who governed the city for almost two decades, was forced out of office. | Mr Sobyanin became mayor in 2010 after Yuri Luzhkov, who governed the city for almost two decades, was forced out of office. |
| Mr Sobyanin has had a low profile during the race, shunning debates with the five other candidates. | Mr Sobyanin has had a low profile during the race, shunning debates with the five other candidates. |
| In late 2011, Moscow was the scene of the biggest anti-government protests since Soviet times, after a general election marred by allegations of ballot-rigging. | In late 2011, Moscow was the scene of the biggest anti-government protests since Soviet times, after a general election marred by allegations of ballot-rigging. |
| Analysts say much depends on how free and fair the mayoral vote is seen to be. | Analysts say much depends on how free and fair the mayoral vote is seen to be. |
| Polls were due to open at 08:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and will close at 20:00. |