Russia Enters ‘Day of Silence’ Ahead of Elections

Russia entered the "day of silence," on Saturday ahead of the presidential elections on 4 March, 2012 prohibiting all forms of election propaganda.

The "day of silence," is meant to give the voters a final opportunity to make up their mind about choosing the future president, away from the pressures of election propaganda.

Propaganda billboards closer than 50 metres (164 feet) from the nearby polling stations would be removed before the start of polling on Sunday.

Preparations for the presidential election on Sunday are in full swing in the country and political observers see the return of Putin to the Kremlin a near reality.

Major contenders for the post of Russian president are the current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, A Just Russia candidate Sergei Mironov and independent candidate Mikhail Prokhorov.

If Putin wins the election, it would be the third term for him as the president of Russia, who spent the past few years as the prime minister of the country.

Recently, Russia has seen unprecedented demonstrations and street protests against Putin accusing him of orchestrating election frauds in the parliamentary elections.