Turnout exceeds 61% in Russia as presidential election enters last day

Overall turnout in presidential election at 61.37% as of 0645 GMT, including remote electronic votes, says Central Election Commission chief

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) — Turnout surpassed 61% in Russia's presidential election as voting entered its last day on Sunday.

Three days of voting to elect the country’s leader began on Friday, with President Vladimir Putin seeking a fifth term.

The other three candidates include the New People Party’s Vladislav Davankov, the Liberal-Democrat Party of Russia's Leonid Slutsky and the Communist Party's Nikolai Kharitonov.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission, said turnout as of 9.45 a.m. Moscow time (0645GMT) was 61.37%, taking into account remote electronic voting.

Pamfilova further said that about 280,000 DDoS cyberattacks against remote electronic voting had been foiled, including 215,000 directed specifically on the voting portal itself.

She also indicated that the voting was being monitored by 1,115 international observers and experts from 129 countries.

Polling stations in the Russia are scheduled to close at 8 p.m. (1800GMT) Moscow time, with the first results expected after 9 p.m. (1800GMT).

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