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itsnews · 1 month

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Several people have been detained for vandalism at polling stations on the first day of voting in presidential elections, Russian officials say.

Incidents involved green dye being poured into ballot boxes, the boxes being set alight and fireworks being set off inside polling stations, state media reported.

Vladimir Putin is certain to win six more years in office after the vote.

However, officials have called on law enforcement officers to be vigilant.

Most of the incidents were reported at polling stations in Moscow, Voronezh in south Russia, and the region of Karachay-Cherkessia in the north Caucasus, according to state news agency Tass.

Electoral authorities in St Petersburg said a woman had thrown a petrol bomb near a polling station but the fire was put out.

Footage posted on social media shows one woman pouring bright green liquid into a ballot box in Moscow, while another video shows law enforcement officials putting out a fire at a voting booth before apprehending a woman at another polling station in the Russian capital.

Voting is taking place in Russia over three days until Sunday. The result is not in doubt as Mr Putin has no credible opponent, however state-run media said that turnout had reached 23% by late afternoon in Moscow.

Russia has also enforced the vote in occupied areas of Ukraine and Russian-appointed officials in the small town of Skadovsk said an improvised device exploded in a rubbish bin in front of a polling station without causing injuries.

At least thirteen people have been arrested although officials have not said if the acts of vandalism were protests against Mr Putin.

State-media reports said voting would continue as normal despite the

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itsnews · 1 month

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