Russia readies to elect Medvedev, liberals cry foul

Russian liberals accused the Kremlin yesterday of turning this weekend's presidential election into 'a farce' to ensure a landslide victory for Vladimir Putin's handpicked candidate.

Campaigning was banned on the eve of the vote - the official 'day of silence' - following weeks of a dull campaign that has sparked little emotion among Russia's 109 million voters.

But the liberal opposition made a final protest over the vote which is expected to be a shoo-in for First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, 42, who enjoys Putin's endorsement and thus blanket media coverage.

Putin has presided over Russia's longest economic boom in a generation and many people see partnership between Medvedev and Putin as a way of preserving stability.

Putin's critics - not only liberals but also the vociferous Communists - accuse the Kremlin of harassing rivals and forcing millions of state workers to vote or risk losing their jobs.

Most Western observers have refused to monitor the vote, citing lack of co-operation from the authorities.

Former world chess champion and opposition leader Garry Kasparov and his allies submitted a petition to the central election commission describing the election as a "farce".

"It's very important that there are still people around who believe that this election is a farce," Nikita Belykh, an opposition leader, told reporters.

Kasparov, speaking alongside him, added: "We know perfectly well we can't change anything. But there are things we must do."

Security was tight across the world's biggest country on the eve of the election. The government deployed 450,000 police and troops to guard polling stations. Traffic was due to be restricted in central Moscow on Sunday.

A low turnout could take the shine off Medvedev's likely crushing victory and the Kremlin has sought to galvanise apathetic voters. Analysts say the Kremlin wants to ensure a turnout of at least 70 per cent.

"It's not the question of who wins but a question of how much per cent he (Medvedev) should get," an administration official from the Kursk region in central Russia told Reuters by telephone on condition of anonymity.

Mobile phone operators sent messages urging subscribers to vote. Banners on the streets reminded people of the forthcoming poll.

A huge poster featuring a smiling Putin walking alongside Medvedev was towering above downtown Moscow, just a minute's walk from the Kremlin. 'Together we will win', reads the poster.

In Moscow, Russia's traditional matryoshka nesting dolls with Medvedev portraits were seen on display at souvenir stalls.

Alexander, an entrepreneur in the Siberian oil town of Nizhnevartovsk who asked not to use his last name, told Reuters by telephone that officials were attempting to bribe people into voting by offering them car lottery tickets at polling stations.

Opposition candidates have either been disqualified, or have refused to run in protest. Medvedev's rivals are Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, pro-Kremlin nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Andrei Bogdanov, a little-known politician.

Putin, a former KGB spy who has to step down due to a constitutional restriction on serving more than two consecutive terms, endorsed Medvedev, a former lawyer, last December ending years of suspense over who might replace him.

Putin, 55, is poised to keep a hand on the levers of power by becoming prime minister in a Medvedev administration.

But some Russians voiced disenchantment.

"I voted for Putin last time but I am not going to vote at all this time," said Vladimir, a Moscow resident in his 30s. "I am not an idiot. It's humiliating to vote when everything has been pre-decided."