Russian election chief says enemies preparing for "decisive battle"

Russia’s Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova has said there were no major attacks during the country’s elections, suggesting that Russia’s opponents may either have been deterred or could be preparing for a “decisive battle”.

“Either we have frightened our enemies, or they are preparing for a decisive battle,” Pamfilova said at a briefing at the commission’s information centre.

She also accused European officials, particularly in Germany, of attempting to pass judgement on Russia’s elections, saying an anti-Russian campaign had been organised there with the help of “political outcasts”.

Earlier, Moscow City Election Commission chairwoman Olga Kirillova said hacker attacks had caused a technical failure in Moscow on the first day of voting, temporarily disrupting electronic voting terminals.

Russia is holding three-day elections for the ninth State Duma from September 18 to 20, with polling stations open from 8 am to 8 pm local time.

Voters are electing all 450 members of the lower house for a five-year term under a mixed electoral system. Of the total, 225 seats will be filled through party lists, while another 225 will be contested in single-member constituencies.

Ten political parties are taking part in the federal party-list vote, including United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, A Just Russia and New People.

Voting is also taking place outside Russia, with 333 polling stations operating across 152 countries.

The elections cover more than the federal parliament. Russian voters are also choosing the heads of 10 federal subjects and members of regional legislatures, city councils, as well as district and settlement councils.

By Aghakazim Guliyev