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Russians visit polling stations in Belarus to elect president

Russian diplomats said that almost 10,500 Russian citizens had cast their ballots at the eight polling stations across Belarus by 4 p.m. in Sunday’s presidential election.

The largest turnout was reported in Minsk, where some 4,000 people had visited the Russian embassy by 4 p.m. to vote.

The polling stations were opened at the embassy, as well as at various venues in each of the country's regional capitals, the city of Babruysk and Hantsavichy, a small city in the Brest region where a Russian military unit is located.

The polling stations in Belarus were scheduled to close at 8 p.m.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win the election and secure his third presidential term. His rivals include Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov and Sergei Mironov, leader of a minor pro-Kremlin party.

BelaPAN Photo/Volha Klyashchuk