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Russia regional vote: Polls set to open for key test Russia regional vote: Polls close in key elections
(about 20 hours later)
Voters across Russia are set to vote in regional elections on Sunday that are seen as a gauge of public opinion ahead of parliamentary polls next year. Polls have closed in regional elections across Russia that are seen as a gauge of public opinion ahead of parliamentary elections next year.
About 59 million people - nearly half the population - are eligible to vote for governors and regional parliaments. About 59 million people - nearly half the population - were eligible to vote for 21 governors and 11 regional parliaments. Results are expected to be officially announced on Monday.
But the main opposition Democratic Coalition has only been allowed to stand in one region, Kostroma. The opposition Democratic Coalition was only allowed to stand in one region.
The coalition includes the parties of murdered politician, Boris Nemtsov, and protest leader, Alexei Navalny. The coalition includes the party of murdered politician, Boris Nemtsov.
Navalny cannot run for office as he is serving a suspended prison sentence in an embezzlement case that he argues was fabricated. It also includes the party of anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny. He cannot run for office as he is serving a suspended prison sentence in an embezzlement case that he argues was fabricated.
The Duma has been stripped of any real opposition under President Vladimir Putin, whose approval rating remains consistently high. The Democratic Coalition led by him is only allowed to stand for election in the city of Kostroma, about 350km (215 miles) north-east of Moscow,.
The elections will reveal the mood of Russians after more than a year of financial hardship caused mostly by low oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow's alleged military role in Ukraine. In an interview with the AFP news agency on Sunday night, Navalny said the coalition's exit polls showed it had received 6% of the vote, sufficient to get a candidate into the regional legislature.
Opposition struggles with smears and isolationOpposition struggles with smears and isolation
The Russian parliament - or Duma - has been stripped of any real opposition under President Vladimir Putin, whose approval rating remains consistently high.
The elections will reveal the mood of Russians after more than a year of financial hardship caused mostly by low oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow's alleged military role in Ukraine.
The Democratic Coalition's campaign has not been easy - with minimal coverage on the state media and accusations that they are working for the US, reports the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Russia.The Democratic Coalition's campaign has not been easy - with minimal coverage on the state media and accusations that they are working for the US, reports the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Russia.
Coalition candidates were barred from participating in legislative contests in the Kaluga, Magadan, and Novosibirsk regions.Coalition candidates were barred from participating in legislative contests in the Kaluga, Magadan, and Novosibirsk regions.
The opposition say this was because of technicalities cited by officials in a politically motivated bid to prevent them from standing.The opposition say this was because of technicalities cited by officials in a politically motivated bid to prevent them from standing.
On Saturday, Navalny posted on Facebook (in Russian) about a crackdown on opposition members in Kostroma, north-east of Moscow, saying he expected "major falsifications" in Sunday's polls. On Saturday, Navalny posted on Facebook (in Russian) about a crackdown on opposition members in Kostroma, saying he expected "major falsifications" in the polls.
Russia's main opposition groups combined forces in April, nearly two months after the murder of Mr Nemtsov, who was shot dead while walking with his girlfriend near the Kremlin.Russia's main opposition groups combined forces in April, nearly two months after the murder of Mr Nemtsov, who was shot dead while walking with his girlfriend near the Kremlin.
The coalition, campaigning under Mr Nemtsov's party name Parnas, hopes the the regional elections will be a springboard for the 2016 national parliamentary vote. The coalition, campaigning under Mr Nemtsov's party name Parnas, hopes the elections will be a springboard for the 2016 national parliamentary vote.