'Day of Silence' in Russia before Putin's Expected Reelected

Vladimir Putin is clearly in the lead for Russia's presidential vote, according to opinion polls. Chart by RIA Novosti

Russia entered on Saturday in the so-called "day of silence," prior to the March 4 presidential elections, when any form of election propaganda is prohibited.

A day before the vote, Vladimir Putin, current PM and President of Russia in 2000-2008, is widely expected to win, securing a third term, this time of six years.

Election campaign billboards, which were mounted earlier, could remain in their places on condition that they are situated not closer than 50 m (164 feet) from a nearest polling station.

The "day of silence" is aimed to give a voter an opportunity to make a final decision on his choice of a future president without being pressured by any election propaganda, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said.

The post of president, who this year will be elected for a term of six years for the first time, is being fought over by the following candidates: current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, Head of the Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Sergei Mironov from A Just Russia, and independent candidate Mikhail Prokhorov.

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