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Navalny challenges Sobyanin as Moscow mayor vote begins Putin ally Sobyanin set to win Moscow mayor election
(about 11 hours later)
People in the Russian capital Moscow are voting in the first mayoral election in nearly a decade. Kremlin candidate Sergei Sobyanin is set to win the election for mayor of Moscow, exit polls suggest, in a closely fought contest.
Current mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the Kremlin's candidate, is being challenged by Alexei Navalny, leader of the national protest movement. His main challenger at Sunday's ballot in the Russian capital was Alexei Navalny, the charismatic leader of Russia's pro-democracy movement.
Exit polls quoted by Russian media suggest Mr Sobyanin had won 52%, taking victory in the first round.
But the Navalny campaign believe he did not cross the 50% barrier.
They predict that he won 46% to 35.5% for their man, meaning the election would go to a second round.
The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow says that if Mr Navalny does forces the vote to go to a second round, it will be a major setback for the Kremlin.
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. 'Low turnout'
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. Turnout seems to have been low, with 26.5% officially recorded as having cast their vote two hours before polling stations closed.
Mayoral elections were abolished in Moscow in 2004 but re-instated as a concession to pro-democracy campaigners.
Mr Navalny ran 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. Mr Sobyanin became mayor in 2010 after Yuri Luzhkov, who had 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 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 opened at 08:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and will close at 20:00. In all, six candidates stood in the election.