Russia Votes in Parliamentary Polls

World | December 2, 2007, Sunday // 00:00

Eleven parties are running for places in the next Russian legislature at the polls for the lower house of parliament, the Duma, on Sunday.

Outgoing president Vladimir Putin's party United Russia is expected to win a majority of seats again and it is unclear how many parties will pass the steep 7% barrier necessary to qualify.

The government has come under intense criticism from the opposition, who has blamed it for stifling their campaigns, and foreign observers, who claimed they were being intentionally obstructed.

Putin tops the United Russia list and has left the possibility of claiming the prime minister job if his party wins, staying in power even after he steps down as president after two terms.

More than 100 million voters can cast their ballots in 95.000 polling stations across 11 time zones, but only several hundred foreign observers will be able to monitor the process.

That has given rise to allegations that the polls could be rigged, with several parties, including that of former chess grandmaster and outspoken Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov, among those banned from taking part in the elections.

Opposition parties have also complained of having their headquarters raided, and a prominent Communist-era dissident backed to run for president was arrested for jaywalking.

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