Russia began observing pre-election silence Saturday ahead of the presidential election slated for Sunday.
Under the law on Elections of the President of the Russian Federation, pre-election campaigning and political advertising are banned at 00:00 local time (2000 GMT) of the day before the voting day. Voters are "in silence" to make their choices in a calm environment.
In the country's easternmost regions of Kamchatka and Chukotka, which have a nine-hour time difference with Moscow, pre-election silence began at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time (1100 GMT) on Friday.
On the day of silence, candidates and parties are not allowed to hold rallies, meetings or distribute leaflets.
Pre-election silence is stipulated by many countries in order to give voters time to make their choices without any pressure.
